An integrated design process for slot array antennas

Planar slot arrays are key RF components of high performance airborne radar systems. They are commonly used in fighter aircraft and increasingly in helicopters. This type of antenna is used because it can be designed to combine high gain with low sidelobes. The intrinsic potential for high gain from a resonant slot antenna can be augmented by a larger aperture being achievable in the available space within the enclosing radome than with other types of antenna. The paper firstly describes the design and analysis techniques used in this type of antenna in order to achieve these very exacting performance levels and then goes on to review the interface between manufacture and design. Finally, the use of near field measurement techniques as a design and fault diagnosis tool are discussed