Phased array communication system providing airborne crosslink and satellite communication receive capability

摘要

A phased array communication system and method has a plurality of phased array antenna structures disbursed throughout an aircraft in a manner to provide substantially spherical antenna coverage around the aircraft. The system includes n-element arrays and transmit/receive modules connected to respective elements forming the array. A beam forming network and antenna interface unit are included. Communication signals are converted between a satellite downlink frequency band and a communications band used by Communication, Navigation and Identification (CNI) components, known to those skilled in the art, for allowing (a) air-to-air crosslink communication; (b) satellite receive communications; and (c) air-to-ground data link communications at a satellite downlink frequency band. A communications transceiver is operatively connected to each antenna interface unit for receiving and transmitting communication signals within a communications band used by communication, navigation and identification (CNI) components to and from the phased array antenna structures.