MULTI-BAND INTEGRATED ANTENNA ARRAYS FOR VERTICAL LIFT AIRCRAFT AND MULTI-POLARIZATION NVIS

• Main Authors: WEST, James B, GRAF, Joseph T
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 13.07.2022
• Subjects: ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES; ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; ELECTRICITY; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION ORRERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; TESTING

A system of antennas, each having disparity operating frequencies, are incorporated into the same aircraft body panels. The antennas may comprise spiral antennas (1002, 1004) incorporated into aircraft body panels. The spiral antennas (1002, 1004) may be slot or printed material antennas, cavity backed for unidirectional communication, or open for bi-directional communication. The spiral antennas (1002, 1004) are operated in concert as a steerable array. The spiral antennas (1002, 1004) are utilized for various signal functions including ultra-wideband communications and electronic support measures interferometry. The antennas may comprise high-frequency (HF) antennas disposed on various aircraft body panels. The antennas are configured for orthogonal polarization such that NVIS may be operable no matter the state of the ionosphere. The antennas are disposed on substantially perpendicular body panels so that, when operated in concert, the resulting signals have opposite polarization and at least one signal will bounce off the ionosphere.