Modern manpack or hand held RF communication systems mandate an ultra compact and lightweight transceiver design complemented with a physically small antenna system with extraordinary RF bandwidth, high gain capability and omnidirectional radiation patterns. Also, it is desirable to be able to electronically tune the antenna to a specific operating frequency or band. Furthermore, special communication security and/or surveillance applications, the antenna itself must have a low-profile for low observability, covert, transportable, and capable of rapid deployment.
