Low-sidelobe antennas for tactical radars

The increasing levels and sophistication of anti-radar electronic warfare have rekindled interest in very low sidelobe radar antennas. A review of the effect of low-sidelobe requirements on antenna design and radar system performance leads to new ways of establishing radar antenna sidelobe level criteria. Radar antennas designed in accordance with these criteria offer substantial enhancement of radar performance in the modern tactical environment. It is pointed out that studies have been completed indicating that sidelobe level improvements of the order of 10 to 15 dB are available with only a moderate increase in cost.