Effect of antenna aircraft interaction on phased-array radar performance

Large ultralow sidelobe airborne array antennas are required for detection of low radar cross section targets against a background of complex clutter and jammer interference. One of the critical factors which limits the clutter and jammer suppression performance of adaptive phased-array radars is the impact of the aircraft in the near-field of an ultralow sidelobe antenna. A simulation featuring a cost-effective method of predicting performance is described, together with the modeling of the aircraft and airborne radar simulation. The performances attainable in the airborne environment for two possible antenna-aircraft platform configurations are compared using the Ohio State University geometrical theory of diffraction numerical code.