An efficient hybrid numerical-ray based subaperture formulation for the analysis of large convex conformal antenna arrays on large platforms

A hybrid combination of numerical and uniform geometrical theory of diffraction (UTD) ray methods is developed to predict the performance of large conformal antenna arrays on a locally convex portion of an otherwise complex and electrically large metallic platform. The antenna aperture is subdivided into subapertures and rays are launched from only a single point within each subaperture. These rays are tracked to the observer in the presence of the large platform environment.