Airframe Requirements for Future Communications

Operational requirements and technology advancements will mold aeronautical communications systems in the next decade. However, communications systems neither size nor configure airplanes, although they may affect design details. Configuration criteria are derived from such parameters as range, payload, and speed. Optimization of airframe and system designs requires that compatible characteristics of each be fully exploited. Therefore, the impact of airframe configurations and structural technology upon communication systems, as well as advancements in electronics technology, must be carefully considered in the early stages of new airplane development cycles (Fig. 1).