Antenna applications and system engineering

Currently, the Rome Air Development Center is involved in radar and communications developments for spaceborne, airborne and ground platforms. In spaceborne applications, the need for radars with high power-aperture products and communications satellites with large amounts of effective radiated power promote consideration of very large apertures with dimensions in the order of hundreds of wavelengths. Radar requirements of accuracy and resolution and communications needs for very high data rates imply greater bandwidths. The need for broad radar coverage and multiple target tracking and communications needs for diversity, coverage, and multiple accesses give rise to consideration of greater beam agility. Size and weight are important for spaceborne and airborne applications; but mobility requirements for tactical radar and communications make this essential consideration for ground-based applications. Concerns over electronics counter measures impose further requirements such as ultra-low sidelobes, adaptive nulling, and wide band signals. Needless to say, low-cost and reliability are the important design factors, too.