New Antennas Conform to Air Vehicles, Not Status Quo

  • Published
  • By Heyward Burnette
  • Materials and Manufacturing
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Air Force Research Laboratory is developing conformal load-bearing antenna structures as an affordable improvement to the current generation of alternative antenna systems. With the ultimate goal of replacing costly, bulky antennas that disrupt airflow with affordable, low-profile antennas that are conformal and can be structurally integrated with air vehicle platforms, this Manufacturing Technology-based, Defense-Wide Manufacturing Science and Technology-driven program is providing key insights regarding present-state antenna manufacturing processes and emergent CLAS fabrication methods alike.

Conventional antennas are very expensive and difficult to manufacture; further, their subsequent mounting or housing aboard vehicle platforms requires extensive structural modifications. The use of CLAS technology in surface-mount antenna elements is therefore an attractive alternative to existing systems. Researchers expect that the integration of CLAS into air vehicles will increase aerodynamic efficiency, decrease weight and drag, improve platform endurance and speed, and minimize installation impacts. The technology will also enable radar capability on smaller platforms and enhance situational awareness for Air Force systems operators.

During the CLAS project, ManTech and Boeing researchers collaborated to conduct a Manufacturing Readiness Assessment for determining the current state of CLAS manufacturing maturity in order to identify areas for improvement. The MRA prompted key advances in the area of CLAS modeling, materials, and manufacturing readiness, as demonstrated by the resultant prototypes. A VHF [very-high frequency] blade antenna was chosen as the conventional antenna to be replaced by a CLAS design. The initial prototype developed using the down-selected materials and simulated geometry achieved the required bandwidth. With a revision to the antenna shape, the second prototype complied with the required center frequency. The final (third) prototype, which underwent manufacturing in a production environment, was embedded into the conformal surface of a 737 wing-to-body fairing and complied with the radio frequency requirements set for the project.