Conformal, low RCS, wideband, phased array antenna for satellite communications applications

摘要

A phased array antenna (12) that includes a plurality of multiple spiral arm antenna elements (10). The antenna elements (10) are hexagonal in shape and are aligned in a triangular lattice geometry, where the elements (10) are arranged in rings around a common center element (32). The elements (10) include at least two arms (18, 20) which terminate at opposite sides of the element (10). The ends (26, 28) of the arms (18, 20) of diagonally adjacent elements (10) are positioned proximate to each other to provide inter-element coupling to increase the bandwidth of the antenna (12). The tight coupling of the antenna elements (10) also reduces the RCS of the antenna (12).