Tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), mobile platforms, and radar installations demand high Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) and rapid spatial scanning without the mechanical inertia, reliability limits, and payload mass of legacy gimbaled antennas. Achieving precise two-dimensional beam steering within restricted airborne and mobile payloads requires compact Antenna-in-Package (AiP) architectures that combine multi-channel transceivers, beamforming feed networks, and thermal dissipation paths into a single low-profile assembly.
The X-band 256-channel 2D active phased array antenna integrates a 16×16 element transceiver matrix operating across the 9.2 GHz to 9.8 GHz frequency band (customizable in 30 MHz steps). Delivering a specified system EIRP of ≥ 80 dBm and a receive G/T sensitivity of ≥ 0.5 dB/K across the specified frequency and temperature ranges, the subsystem provides ±45° two-dimensional electronic scanning in both azimuth and elevation. Enclosed in a compact ≤ 315 × 315 × 60 mm housing weighing ≤ 3.5 kg, the array operates from a single DC 18V – 36V supply and consumes ≤ 235 W at a 20% transmission duty cycle.
Technical Specs & Engineering Support
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System-Level Technical Specifications
The table below outlines the core RF performance, electrical parameters, and mechanical characteristics of the 256-channel active phased array:
| Parameter Category | Technical Parameter | Specification / Requirement |
| RF & Array Topology | Operating Frequency Band | 9.2 GHz – 9.8 GHz (Customizable in 30 MHz steps) |
| Array Configuration | 256 Elements (16×16 Matrix) | |
| Polarization | Vertical (Horizontal available upon request) | |
| System EIRP (Normal Direction) | ≥ 80 dBm (Across all operating bands and temperatures) | |
| G/T Sensitivity | ≥ 0.5 dB/K (Across all operating bands and temperatures) | |
| Beam Steering & Pattern | Electronic Scan Range | Azimuth ±45° / Elevation ±45° |
| Pointing Accuracy | ≤ 0.15° (within ±20°) / ≤ 0.3° (within ±45°) | |
| Scan Gain Roll-Off | ≤ 3 dB (within ±45° scan range) | |
| Tx Beamwidth / Rx Beamwidth | Tx: 5.8° ± 0.3° / Rx: 6.8° ± 0.4° (@ center frequency) | |
| Difference Beam Null Depth | -22 dB (Typical, Azimuth & Elevation) | |
| First Sidelobe Level (Rx) | < -22 dB (Normal direction) | |
| Transceiver Performance | Single-Channel Peak Tx Power | ≥ 27 dBm (Design Guarantee) |
| Rx Active Channel Gain | ≥ 15 dB (Design Guarantee; adjustable) | |
| Receiver Noise Figure | < 3.5 dB (Across all operating bands and temperatures) | |
| Beam Handover Time | ≤ 50 μs | |
| SWaP-C & Interfaces | Dimensions (L × W × H) | ≤ 315 × 315 × 60 mm |
| Total System Weight | ≤ 3.5 kg | |
| Power Supply / Consumption | DC 18V – 36V / ≤ 235 W (at 20% Tx duty cycle) | |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40°C to +70°C | |
| Control & Power Connectors | Control: J30J-15ZK (Synchronous RS422) / Power: J30J04P04P |
2D AiP Matrix Architecture and Signal Flow
The subsystem integrates the antenna radiating aperture, T/R channels, frequency synthesizer, monopulse network, and wave controller into a single structural enclosure:
Active Phased Array Signal Flow (System-Level Representation):
Baseband / IF Radar Signal ──► Internal Synthesizer & RF Distribution ──► 256-Channel T/R Core (16×16 AiP Matrix) ──► Monopulse Sum/Difference Network ──► Radiating Aperture (Spatial Beam Output)
(Beam steering and mode configurations are executed by the internal wave controller via the Synchronous RS422 protocol through the J30J-15ZK interface)
- EIRP Performance: The array integrates 256 active transmit channels, each rated at ≥ 27 dBm peak power, while the specified system EIRP is ≥ 80 dBm in the normal direction, supporting high-gain X-band beamforming and directional transmission applications.
- Receive Chain Specifications: The receive chain provides ≥ 15 dB active-channel gain with a specified noise figure of < 3.5 dB, while the system-level G/T is specified at ≥ 0.5 dB/K across all operating bands and temperatures.
- Monopulse Sum-and-Difference Output: Dedicated RF ports provide Sum (H), Azimuth Difference (FWC), and Pitch Difference (FYC) outputs with a -22 dB difference null depth, supporting monopulse angular-error measurement and tracking.
Electronic Beam Steering and Fast Handover Performance
Eliminating mechanical gimbals enables agile spatial volume searching and rapid multi-target engagement:
- Two-Dimensional ±45° Scanning: The array steers dynamically across azimuth and elevation planes with a scan gain roll-off of ≤ 3 dB within the ±45° scan range.
- Pointing Accuracy: The system achieves pointing accuracy of ≤ 0.15° within the central ±20° cone, and ≤ 0.3° within the ±45° scan range.
- Rapid Beam Handover: The wave controller executes phase and amplitude state transitions in ≤ 50 μs, supporting rapid beam switching in dynamic scanning applications.
- Rx Sidelobe Suppression: The receive pattern achieves a first sidelobe level of < -22 dB in the normal direction, helping suppress off-axis signal pickup in the receive pattern.
SWaP-C Optimization for Airborne and Mobile Installations
Integrating advanced active phased array antennas into tactical platforms requires strict adherence to size, weight, power, and cooling constraints:
- Compact 60 mm Profile: Enclosing 256 active channels within a ≤ 315 × 315 × 60 mm envelope facilitates compact integration on UAVs and mobile platforms.
- Total Mass of ≤ 3.5 kg: The ≤ 3.5 kg system weight helps reduce payload burden in airborne and mobile installations.
- Power Efficiency: At a 20% transmit duty cycle, the subsystem consumes ≤ 235 W from a standard DC 18V – 36V bus.
- Environmental Specifications: Specified for operation from -40°C to +70°C. The specified surface finish includes conductive oxide coating for the cavity and white primer for the radome.
Primary Application Scenarios
System integrators deploy phased array antenna systems across several demanding defense and aerospace operational domains:
- Tactical UAV Radar Payloads: Airborne volume search, maritime surface tracking, and ground moving-target indication (GMTI) for medium-sized UAV installations.
- Mobile Air Defense & Counter-UAS (C-UAS): Track-while-scan (TWS) detection of low-altitude, high-speed aerial targets from tactical mobile platforms.
- Perimeter and Border Security Systems: 2D sector surveillance with automated target acquisition and monopulse angular tracking.
- Precision Fire-Control Radar: Rapid beam handover and sum-difference angle measurement for fire-control tracking and weapon cueing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are the primary advantages of an Antenna-in-Package (AiP) phased array for UAV payloads?
AiP architecture integrates radiating elements, T/R channels, and beamformers within a single compact module. This reduces the need for extensive external RF cabling, reduces system thickness to ≤ 60 mm, and keeps overall weight to ≤ 3.5 kg.
Q2: How does the array handle angular tracking of moving targets?
The antenna integrates a monopulse sum-and-difference feed network providing Sum (H), Azimuth Difference (FWC), and Pitch Difference (FYC) outputs with a -22 dB null depth, supporting monopulse angular-error measurement and tracking.
Q3: What control interface is used to command beam positions in real time?
Beam steering is controlled via a Synchronous RS422 protocol over a J30J-15ZK interface running at a clock rate ≥ 10 MHz, supporting 16-byte wave control packets with 0.05° angular quantization.