A Wide-Scanning Array Antenna of Connected Vertical Bowtie Elements Structurally Integrated Within an Aircraft Fuselage

A low-profile, wide-scanning phased-array antenna of vertical bowtie elements fully integrated with a structurally efficient radome and ribs of an aircraft fuselage is proposed in this article. The array is designed to simultaneously fulfill the electrical requirements of an airborne antenna sensor and the mechanical requirements of a load-carrying aircraft fuselage. The array antenna is capable of steering the beam up to
$\pm \mathrm{80}^{\circ} $
in the azimuth plane over a 20% bandwidth (2.4–3 GHz) with the active reflection coefficient (
$\Gamma _{act}$
) below −10 dB in an infinite array environment. Experimental results of a
$16 \times 16$
element array demonstrator agree well with the simulation results. The
$16 \times 16$
array antenna is capable of steering the beam up to
$\pm \mathrm{60}^{\circ} $
and
$\pm \mathrm{75}^{\circ} $
with the bandwidth of 20% and 10%, respectively, at
$\Gamma _{act}\leq -10$
dB. The array antenna also achieved good stiffness and performed well in the vibration loads of commercial transport aircraft.