SPIKE a Physical Optics based code for the analysis of antenna radome interactions

This paper presents a new physical optics based radome code SPIKE which has been used by SELEX S&AS to assess the impact of radomes on antenna performance. After a brief summary of the mathematical basis of the code some advantages of Physical Optics such as the ability to predict 2^nd flashlobes and calculate the near fields in the vicinity of the antenna are demonstrated. Finally a comparison of flight trials data with results obtained from SPIKE in conjunction with a radar detection model GARD is made.