V. V. Zadorozhnyj1, A. Yu. Larin2, N. I. Chikov3
1–3 FSUE “Rostov-on-Don Research Institute of Radio Communication” (Rostov-on-Don, Russia)

The main technical parameters of the radiating systems (RS) of active electronically steered array (AESA) and their antenna elements include: frequency band at the given standing wave ratio (SWR), directivity, electronic scanning angle, beam width, weight and overall dimensions. In the RS production, important characteristics are cost, manufacturability and repeatability of parameters. When RS creating, design engineers strive to obtain the maximum possible technical parameters, taking into account the restrictions on the cost of production and available technologies. In order to improve the parameters of antenna elements and other components of the AESA, new technologies and design solutions are being developed.

The purpose of the article is to overview the main methods for improving the manufacturability and reducing the overall dimensions of the RS, as well as main methods for broadening the RS frequency band.

The reduction of the profile height of the vibrator elements is achieved by choosing the shape of the feed network and introducing of additional passive elements, which allows reducing the profile height by 30% from 0,25λ0 to 0,175λ0. A more significant reduction of the profile height of the vibrator antenna elements is achieved by using a metamaterial substrate, which makes it possible to reduce the profile height by 78% from 0,25λ0 to 0,055λ0 with a relative operating frequency band of 13,7% at the level of SWR ≤ 2. Significant reduction of the RS profile height and broadening of the frequency band is achieved by using the tightly coupled array.

Zadorozhnyj V.V., Larin A.Yu., Chikov N.I. State-of-the-art and prospects of radiating systems of active electronically steered arrays. Antennas. 2022. № 1. P. 5–25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18127/j03209601-202201-01 (in Russian)

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