Comparison of mutual coupling of blade antennas with predictions based on minimum-scattering antenna theory

The utility of the minimum-scattering antenna model in describing the mutual coupling between two L-band aircraft blade antennas is examined. The communication and sensor requirements of many aircraft, particularly those used by the military, frequently necessitate antennas being placed in close proximity to one another. For such cases, the relatively simple minimum-scattering antenna model provides a very good approximation of the measured mutual coupling of blade antennas and eliminates the need for solving coupled integral equations.