Analysis of Nosecone Radome Effects of Active Electronically Scanned Array(AESA) Radar Performance of Fighter Aircrafts

Most of the airborne fire control radars (FCR) are migrating to the modern active electronically steered array (AESA) technology from mechanically scanned array (MSA) technology. The FCR radars are normally installed in the nose of the aircraft that acts as a radome. Apart from structural characteristics, the Electromagnetic characteristics of the radome are essential for the performance of the radar. It leads to the antenna principal beam attenuation, deflection and reflection. The design of radome for AESA radar for airborne applications is a major challenge due to its shape and size requirements. Very few pioneers in the world are developing this class of radomes. Manufacturing of these radome as per the design is another big challenge. Then it comes to the Electromagnetic (EM) characterization of the radome, for radar application this is an elaborate process as they are to be carried out are very high in number. The advantage of desired beam formation in AESA radar brings more complexity as the radiation patterns are different in transmission and reception. This paper presents the issues in design and development of low loss, high performance radomes for airborne AESA radars on fighter aircrafts. Also it focuses on the radome effects on AESA antenna main beam attenuation and side 1lobe level degradation in Transmission and reception. The simulation and analysis of this kind of radomes is presented and discussed.