The Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) needs multi-band airborne and ground vehicular antennas that can cover all JTRS bands over 1-2.5 GHz and have steerable beams. The difficulties in developing these antennas are due to the requirements of not only multi-band/broadband to cover 1-2.5 GHz, but also low-profile and conformability suitable for mounting on a military airborne and/or ground platform, as well as an affordable cost for inherently expensive beam steering. Fortunately, Wang Electro-Opto Corporation (WEO) has recently developed an airborne multiband/broadband array antenna having performance and features generally similar to the requirements of this Army SBIR program, Topic A03-120, as well as affordable costs. The main differences are the wider operating frequency range and the specific JTRS bands in this SBIR program. Based on this new technology, Wang Electro-Opto Corporation (WEO) proposes to develop a smart beam-forming antenna operating throughout the 1-2.5 GHz JTRS bands. The initial design is for single-beam with multiple-beam features to be added later if desired.
Benefits: A low-cost multiband conformal, beam-steered antenna can be applied to numerous commercial and military airborne and vehicular systems. Industry applications include cellular base station and mobile antennas for high-rate data transmission, wireless LAN data links, and mobile Inmarsat satellite links.
Keywords: Smart antenna, Tunable, Beam-forming, tracking, flat-panel, Beam steering, Array, Tunable
