Ceramic radome development for guided weapons

The electrical characteristics of the radome, particularly the rate of change of aberration or boresight error slope, can be responsible for fundamental limitations with respect to the performance of a radar-guided missile. An outline is provided of the problems to be overcome and the methods used in the development program for a ceramic radome. Questions of material selection are considered. The 'optimum' dielectric constant is found to depend on the bandwidth over which good aberration performance is required and on the manufacturing tolerances which are to be achieved in production. Electrical design problems are also discussed. The development process which produces the complex wall thickness design begins with the electrical analysis techniques. As well as meeting the electrical performance requirements, the radome designer must consider the aerodynamic and structural requirements imposed by the missile flight environment.