Circularly Polarized High Power Antenna

OUSD (R&E) MODERNIZATION PRIORITY: Directed Energy TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics; Materials The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. Please direct questions to the Air Force SBIR/STTR HelpDesk: usaf.team@afsbirsttr.us. OBJECTIVE: This topic is intended to develop a high gain, high power, circularly polarized mesoband coaxial-fed antenna for HPM field applications. DESCRIPTION: Proposals to this topic should identify promising antenna topologies; model and simulate the excitation and radiation of the design; and build and test the antenna. This antenna should be capable of meeting the MIL-STD-810g shock and vibration. It should be rated to handle an input pulse with FWHM of 10 ns and peak powers of one gigawatt. The antenna design should be scalable to radiate L- and S-band, but not necessarily simultaneously. The L-band design should radiate with gain of at least 21 dB and emphasis on 1.1 GHz. The S-band design should radiate with gain of at least 27 dB and emphasis on performance at 2.8 GHz. The radiation pattern should be circularly polarized. The antenna or array should fit with a volume less than 1.5 cubic meters. The antenna design, modeling and simulation results, and experimentally validated antenna pattern should be delivered to AFRL. PHASE I: During phase one, teams should identify an appropriate antenna architecture to meet the stated requirements. Teams should model this antenna using an appropriate modeling and simulation software, with emphasis on electrodynamic performance under one gigawatt drive. Antenna performance should be characterized, both as a function of frequency-dependent gain and radiation pattern. A preliminary analysis of shock and vibration hardiness should be performed. An antenna design, modeling and simulation results, and path forward to meeting phase two and three requirements must be submitted to the AFRL TPOCs. PHASE II: During phase two, teams should construct both the L- and S-band antenna designs proposed in phase one. These antennas should be characterized experimentally using AFRL-supplied HPM sources, including frequency-dependent gain, antenna pattern, and polarization. Shock and vibration hardiness should also be analyzed. The completed antennas should be delivered to AFRL. A report detailing the antenna's characterization, including raw data sets, and path forward to meeting phase three requirements is also required. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: During phase three, teams will work with AFRL on improving manufacturability, with emphasis on utilizing common or COTS materials and previously established supply chains. Further integration and operational tests with AFRL sources will also take place. Finally, improvements to the antenna should be proposed. A report detailing improvements to manufacturability, antenna performance, and operational test results will be due to AFRL. REFERENCES: J.D. Kraus, "The Helical Antenna", Proc. of IRE, Vol. 37, 3, 1949; W. Zhou et. al., "A Broadband and High-Gain Planar Complementary Yagi Array Antenna with Circular Polarization", IEEE Trans. on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 65, 3, 2017. KEYWORDS: High Gain; Antenna; Circular Polarization; High Power Microwave; HPM