Enabling Technologies for Ultra Wideband Phased Array for Radar and Ew Applications with Focus on Small and Medium Platforms

Systems that can operate over wide frequency ranges with agile beam scanning and frequency hopping are receiving increased attention due to recent trends within communication, radar and EW applications. In addition to requiring wideband apertures, T/R modules, beamforming and beam shaping, a wideband multifunction antenna system must also be able to instantaneously reconfigure the array to the required function(s) and other parameters such as effective radiated power (ERP) and beam shape. Our findings on the feasibility of realizing crucial components for wideband phased arrays and in particular array antennas, ultra wideband beamformer and front-end for small and medium platforms such as UAV’s is reported in this paper. A compact and lightweight phased array concept for 360° coverage is presented.