Generalized radome BSE (radome boresight error) characterization using superposition techniques

Measurement of radome boresight error response to both polarization and gimbal angle variations can result in excessively long measurement times if a large number of incident polarizations are to be tested. Instead, by measuring the antenna radome system response to two orthogonal polarizations, and by using electro-magnetic superposition, it is possible to completely characterize the antenna/radome BSE response as a function of any arbitrary incident polarization. This paper will focus on the details of implementing the generalized radome BSE characterization in the Bedford Automated Test Facility and will compare measured and superpositioned data.