Antenna design and beamforming for a conformal antenna array demonstrator

The present paper gives an overview over a radar demonstrator currently under development and the design of the system's conformal antenna array front-end. Important system parameters and overall performance of the planned system are described and experimental results for reflection coefficients, mutual coupling and embedded antenna element far field patterns will be included as well as simulated pattern synthesis results for different operational modes. In addition, a circularly polarized antenna sub-array suitable for integration in double curved apertures has been developed. The structure combines multiple cavity-backed patch antennas on a circular substrate and is connected to the feed network via a single coaxial line. A conformal antenna array of spherical shape based on this technology is currently being built for beam forming experiments