Arranging multiple-aperture MILSATCOM antennas to meet radio regulations

There are difficulties in meeting radio regulations for mobile satellite terminals with relatively narrow-beam antennas, such as in the Ka-band. There are advantages to replacing a single antenna with several smaller ones coherently operated. With such a multiple-element antenna, advantage can be taken of the asymmetry of regulations, and of the ability to adjust the element spacing to modify the close-in pattern. In this paper, a two-step methodology is provided for performing these adjustments. An example illustrates how a particular system can be made to meet the regulations.