N101-034 TITLE: Affordable Broadband Radome

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Materials/Processes, Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-208, Aerial Target Systems; PMA-290

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted." The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative technologies resulting in affordable materials and manufacturing processes for broadband supersonic radomes.

DESCRIPTION: Current radomes qualified for supersonic flight are costly. Some are out of production and based on older generation manufacturing technology. Target systems often have the capability to carry varying radio frequency (RF) emitter payloads that transmit through the (typically composite) radome and the have the ability to integrate internal passive RF reflectors (Luneburg lens, concave or convex reflectors) inside radomes to augment signature. Innovative material and design solutions are needed to achieve low insertion and transmission losses for improved radome performance. Future weapon system radomes must effectively support seeker transmission but may in some cases need to limit reception of out-of-band RF interference and the definition of "broadband" may be considered more band specific. Material and design improvements should support supersonic capabilities at all altitudes. A separate design for the very high altitude supersonic/hypersonic mission capability is possible if it results in design, manufacturing or RF performance advantages. Designs should minimize receive and transmit losses from radome nose tip blockage (shadow area) for high Mach flight. An exception is a design option for the high altitude case for integration of a pitot probe through the radome nose tip with the necessary mounting interface. Affordable manufacturing processes and material systems, that are environmentally stable in long term storage, are sought.

PHASE I: Develop concepts for radome designs, and manufacturing methods. Prove technical feasibility of the concepts and methods.

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate full scale "operational" radome prototypes. Finalize and validate radome capabilities.

PHASE III: Finalize development with military, NASA, and commercial applications. Transition technology with resulting customers.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Material and process advances from the project will feed corresponding improvements in the commercial sector for more durable affordable general purpose antenna radome covers with greater environmental stability. While the commercial sector will have fewer supersonic applications there is potential for dual use in the commercial space launch industry and potential to serve as enabling technologies in support of emerging supersonic transport aircraft.

REFERENCES:
1. Harris, Daniel, "Materials for Infrared Windows and Domes: Properties and Performance," SPIE Optical Engineering Press, 1999.

2. Chatsworth, CA, Sefton, H. B., Jr., "Four Band Radar Augmentation System for High Performance Targets," TECOM Industries Inc., Jan 1985, National Technical Information Service, NTIS Order Number:: ADP004625; http://www.ntis.gov/search/product.aspx?ABBR=ADP004625

3. Chang, D. C. "Comparison of Computed and Measured Transmission Data for the AGM-88 HARM Radome � Master�s Thesis," Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA., Dec 1993, National Technical Information Service, NTIS Order Number: AD-A274 868/9; http://www.ntis.gov/search/product.aspx?ABBR=ADA274868

4. Joy, E. B., Huddleston, G. K., Bassett H. L., Gorton C. W., Bomar S. H. "Analysis and Evaluation of Radome Materials and Configurations for Advanced RF Seekers � Final Research Report", Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA, , Jan 1974, National Technical Information Service, NTIS Order Number: AD-774 310/7; http://www.ntis.gov/search/product.aspx?ABBR=AD774310

KEYWORDS: radome; broadband; materials; supersonic; composite; ceramic

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