NOVEL ELECTRONICALLY STEERED ANTENNA FOR AIRCRAFT-MILSTAR LINKS

We propose to develop a novel electronically steered MMW antenna for mobile aircraft to Milstar communications terminals. The device proposed, a new type of all-solid-state scanner, would provide for much higher beam steering rates than mechanical scanners and be less complex than phased arrays. A terminal employing the device would allow a user to rapidly log-on to a moving military communication satellite from a moving platform such as a tactical aircraft. Operation from a moving platform is made possible by a newly discovered antenna beam scanning technique. The new technique offers sub-millisecond scan times, narrow beam widths, and operates over a wide range of wavelengths. In particular, antennas using this technique would have a high rate of response, allowing for compensation of dynamic changes in platform orientation to be compensated for in real time. These antennas would eliminate the necessity for stationary antenna pedestals, and allow the user to log-on to a satellite system and establish a communications link from a moving airborne platform. By allowing platform movement, the terminal would provide increased immunity from electromagnetic counter measures and from attack. In general, the new beam scanning technique promises significant advances in MMW beam control with greater system reliability and lower cost.