Design and measurement of an active array antenna for an airborne X-Band SAR/MTI radar

A X-band electronically scanned active phased array antenna has been developed for an airborne SAR/MTI radar, with an European team from France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Spain. RF simulations and re-use or adaptation of available elements have made it possible to design and develop in a reduced time frame the different constitutive parts of the antenna assembly. In the integration process, the radiating unit has undergone a calibration process in a near field test range. Radiation patterns for the various modes, in the frequency band and within the angular field-of-view have been obtained through near-field to far-field transform, and the antenna assembly radiated power (EIRP) and quality factor (G/T) has been evaluated with a near-field procedures.