A.Yu. Grinev, D.V. Bagno, G.F. Moseichuk, A.I. Sinani

Broadening of electrically scanning array antenna bandwidth is considered as a trend and a key feature in designing the next generation of multifunctional radio systems which perform radar, ELINT, EW, IFF, navigation and radio communication functions. For one or two octaves\' array antennas, principles of «current sheet» [6, 7], controlled mutual coupling [8-11] and radiators non-uniform arrangement are considered. Methods of electromagnetic simulation of radiators and arrays are compared, focusing on MoM, FDTD and FEM. Genetic algorithm is considered as an adequate for multi-parameter multi-extremal optimization of wideband array radiators. Linear (1D) array antenna design is presented (fig. 1). The antenna is based on Vivaldi radiator and is arranged inside of controlled slat of leading edge of aircraft\'s wing. It is shown that even in case of available cross-section\'s space lack (0,2  0,25 max) and influence of adjoin radome and metallic elements of a wing, it is possible to provide acceptable SWR < 3,3 (fig. 2-4) and antenna pattern (fig. 5) in 1,0-3,0 GHz band while scan in ±45º sector. Plane array antenna (fig. 6, 7) allows 2D beam scanning in ±60º sector with SWR < 4,0 (fig. 8, 9) in 1,0-3,5 GHz bandwidth. Array of 2121 radiators was successfully modeled with PC equipped with 24 Gbytes of RAM. Effects of Vivaldi array antenna scan blindness are summarized, including: diffraction lobe; resonance within PCB\'s dielectric substrate (H-plane blindness, [13]); two types of E-pale blindness. Designed 1D and 2D arrays are free of blindness. Results of electromagnetic simulation of the designed arrays are summarized in Conclusion.