A multifunctional Ka-band electronic scanning antenna (ESA)

A future goal of the army is to deploy a highly mobile force that is more survivable and lethal than today´s heavy tank centric force structure. These future goals can be met by simultaneously removing some of the tank´s armor, significantly reducing the weight, and enabling a millimeter wave (mmW) multifunction sensor that includes an active protection function. With the paramount need of enabling an advanced sensor in mind, the Army Research Laboratory is developing a multifunction RF (MFRF) system with a common electronic scanning antenna (ESA) that will perform the functions of target acquisition and tracking, high data rate communications, combat ID, weapons guidance and active protection. The motivation of this mmW sensor is to mitigate the target acquisition, identification and communication timelines in the complex electromagnetic environments encountered in tactical situations. This paper presents an overview of the ESA and some measured results from a first prototype.