Beam-shaping Enhanced Antenna Radar (BEAR)

Radomes have been commonly used to protect antenna systems for decades. Typical applications consist of protecting systems from ambient dust, moisture, salt, etc. as well as providing concealment. The usual goal of a radome is to provide minimal losses and reflections while accomplishing these objectives. However, there is a technology that has seen deployment in radomes in recent years to provides the opposite effect purposefully: Frequency Selective Surfaces (FSS). FSS provide attenuation of specific frequencies acting as a filter in front of the antenna system. By creating a filter at this stage of the antenna system, a smaller, lighter, simpler system can be made. Despite these developments, the Navy is still searching for a custom solution that provides enhanced performance for their desired applications.  In response to this solicitation, MaXentric has proposed the Beam-shaping Enhanced Antenna Radar (BEAR) system. BEAR will provide a radome that will shape the antenna beam in the desired frequency range, reducing side lobes and aiding in spectrum management. The BEAR will also be non-reciprocal in that the receive and transmit performance will be asymmetrical.