SBIR-STTR Award

There is currently a need for high data rate, dual frequency band airborne SATCOM communication with a very low profile antenna system to reduce drag, and footprint on the host aircraft fuselage. The need to switch frequency band without physical reconfiguration is essential given the evolving needs and geographic deployment regions in which our armed services have to operate. This proposal outlines the proposed Pacific Antenna Systems (PAS) effort to develop a very low profile, high bandwidth antenna system compatible with the requirements of the WGS satellite constellation and in accordance with the technical guidelines of MIL-STD-188-164B. The effort details the development of a high gain, highly efficient, X/Ka Band antenna which can be switched on-the-fly 0x9D with no hardware reconfiguration. The antenna described shall be suitable for use in rotary wing or fixed wing aircraft. Additionally, the optional use of Ku Band SATCOM and the Dual Mode 0x9D objective of a X\Ku\Ka SATCOM and Line of Sight TCDL shall be investigated during this proposed effort

Benefit:
The applications for the Low Profile antenna system high gain, highly efficient, X/Ka Band antenna which can be switched on-the-fly 0x9D with no hardware reconfiguration shall be suitable for use in most rotary wing or fixed wing aircraft applications. The potential benefit and cost savings of a multiband antenna could be realized by all branches of the US Department of Defense and possibly NATO countries. Additional interest could be from U.S Civil authorities and Border Patrol agencies

Keywords:
airborne SATCOM communications, airborne SATCOM communications, high bandwidth antenna, a very low profile, High data rate, dual frequency band

Todays helicopter and vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned air vehicle (VTUAV) warfighters are faced with challenges of interfacing and sharing sensor data, targeting information in radio systems using Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) SATCOM and Line of Sight (LOS) network concentric communication systems. The high bandwidth required for these radio transmissions is typically greater than 10 megabits per second and 14 megabits per second is desired. This is further complicated in a helicopter environment by attempting to transmit information through-the-rotorblades (TTR). Additionally different carrier frequencies (Ka and X Band) from different satellites are sometimes needed based on geographic locations, etc. In a Line of Sight (LOS) mode of operation Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL) has been mandated by most of the U.S DoD and its allies as the preferred secure datalink. This technical proposal addresses an affordable, lightweight, low profile antenna system that can accommodate the complicated issues including transmission TTR with BLOS/LOS modes of operation.

Benefit:
OBSCAN technology offers the low-cost, size and weight advantages to both Rotary Wing aircraft for TTR communications and Fixed Wing & UAV communities needing Dual Band, Dual Mode 0x9D LOS/BLOS communications capabilities. OBSCAN shall have the advantage of affordability and can take the place of two antennas on certain platforms given the TCDL inherent capability and provides ISR data for incorporation into the common operational and tactical pictures (COTP) via Global Information Grid (GIG).Future planned and current UAV/UAS systems needing lower SWaPC communications antennas can consider applying this antenna technology. OBSCAN is an elegant X/Ka Band antenna which can be switched on-the-fly 0x9D with no hardware reconfiguration, and also allows for TCDL LOS communications. OBSCAN also provides for additional, low-cost options are for single band BLOS only, or BLOS/LOS configurations. This allows for considerable savings in costly RFE baseband equipment and allows the Communications Systems Engineer many degrees of freedom and affordable configurations to choose from and can take the place of two antennas on certain platforms given the TCDL inherent capability and provides ISR data for incorporation into the Common Operational and Tactical Pictures (COTP) via Global Information Grid (GIG).

Keywords:
Anti-Submarine-Warfare, Tactical-Common-Data-Link , multiband, Through-the-Rotorblades, VTUAV, SATCOM-Antenna, Helicopter , high-data-rate