Shipboard Low Observable Antenna Concepts

Abstract

ABSTRACT Two new concepts for low radar cross section (RCS) shipboard‐mounted antenna systems are presented in this paper. The first concept for integration of low (RCS) antenna apertures into Low Observable (LO) ship super structures has been developed and evaluated in laboratory experiments. The concept consists of using conformal antenna apertures that have low monos‐tatic radar returns and placing them into a sloped deckhouse or mast structure. Critical to the concept is the ability to place multiple apertures close to one another in a small space. A Multiple Aperture Panel (MAP) concept containing antennas for Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), UHF Line of Sight, LAMPS data link, and Navigation Radar functions was developed. Detailed designs for the IFF and UHF antennas were completed and 1/2 scale versions of these antennas were built and tested. Measurements on the 1/2 scale antennas have demonstrated that the proposed antennas will perform well as transmitters/receivers and provide significantly reduced RCS. Conceptual designs and performance estimates for retrofit of the low RCS IFF antenna on a modern combatant and integration of the IFF antenna into a composite deckhouse structure have been completed. An alternate low RCS UHF antenna for the MAP concept, using a horizontally mounted annular slot aperture was designed, built and tested. The second low RCS antenna system concept is for a compact, self‐contained, low RCS antenna suite containing radar. GPS, IFF UHF communication, and UHF SATCOM antennas has been developed, built, and demonstrated in full scale tests.