Overview
The slotted-waveguide antenna is built around a
precision-machined aluminum housing that provides both
structural rigidity and excellent thermal conductivity.
External mounting interfaces feature threaded inserts and
alignment pins, allowing the unit to be securely bolted to
platform structures while ensuring repeatable positioning.
The integrated thermal straps and grounding planes
manage heat generated by high-power RF currents and
maintain electromagnetic compatibility with surrounding
subsystems.
Inside the enclosure, the RF path is organized into three (3)
cascaded waveguide sections: a primary feed waveguide,
an inclined-slot coupling section, and a radiating slot array.
Each slot is cut to a strict length and offset, spaced to
preserve a uniform phase progression across the aperture.
The mechanical design incorporates precision alignment
features that lock the quadrants together, ensuring beam
symmetry, low side-lobes, and consistent gain throughout
the Ku-band operating range.
Key Features
- Ku-Band Operation – Provides high resolution while keeping the antenna compact for tracking and guidance.
- Four-Quadrant Slot Array – 328 radiating slots divided into four (4) quadrants ensure beam symmetry and efficient power distribution.
- First Layer (Linear Slots) – Optimized for high gain and low sidelobe levels.
- Second Layer (Inclined Feed Slots) – Enables efficient power coupling and precise phase adjustment for beam shaping.
- Third Layer (Main Waveguide) – Contains four (4) distribution slots that feed the radiating structureuniformly.
- Monopulse Feed Network – Supplies equal power (~–6.4dB per port) with good phase balance and high isolation.
- Sum and Difference Beams – Sum beam for target detection; azimuth and elevation difference beams
- provide real-time angular error measurement.