Steerable Beam Array Antenna for Use in ATS-6 Test Program

The design and development of an advanced L-Band microstrip phased array antenna for aircraft is described. The array is Electronically steerable in elevation Conformal to the surface of an aircraft 0.20 inch thick Low cost fabrication technique Installed without cutting large holes in the aircraft Capable of 12 dB gain relative to a right hand circular isotope the development of the microstrip radiator, array configuration, diode phase shifter and the antenna control unit is described. The array design is considered in relation to the ground plane curvature, grating lobes, side lobes, beam shape and gain. Radiation pattern measurements of the full size antenna and scale model antennas on a scale model aircraft are presented. The design of simple loaded line and switched line phase shifters is reported. In addition, preliminary flight test performed from the ATS-6 satellite test program is presented.