Design & development of linearly polarized C-Band Phased Array Antenna for Air-borne & Space-borne SAR payloads

This paper discusses the design of a 16-element linearly polarized C-Band Phased Array Antenna for airborne and space-borne SAR payload. The design is based on Microstrip Patch antenna. A 1×8 equal phase and equal power splitter was realized in reduced size of 25×6 cm
²
. The array of 16 elements was optimized on Ansoft HFSS; a total bandwidth of 150 MHz was achieved at the center frequency of 5.1 GHz with a high bore-side gain of 18dBi, elevation and azimuth planes' HPBW of 50° and 10° respectively, and side lobe suppression of 14dBi. Antenna beam steering up to ±11° was observed for ±60° phase delay between two input ports. The array of 16 elements was fabricated on a low dielectric substrate, and tested in Anechoic Chamber. The measured results are in close agreement with the simulated results of Ansoft HFSS.