Low-profile High-Frequency Maritime Antenna

This program will address developing antenna prototypes that will reduce the size of HF antennas for the small maritime craft while providing increased instantaneous bandwidth to provide higher data rates with higher reliability. We will apply our extensive HF experience in wideband HF ground/airborne antenna development coupled with previous efforts in conformal antennas on unique platforms to fabricate a fully functional prototype dual-polarized HF antenna system. This system will include both vertical and horizontal designs as well as a circuitry box with optimized components. Two complete prototype antenna systems will be fabricated for land-based and sea-based vessel integration prototype testing. We will conduct sea-based antenna characterization testing and integrate these results into the final prototype circuit box. This will then be integrated on a sea-based vessel to complete the physical, electrical, and electronic systems for testing. Once testing has been completed, a final, post-Phase II test configuration prototype antenna system will be fabricated and delivered.