Conformal radar arrays are now being prototyped

With an array this large, resolution could be very good, and it's likely that it might have significant stealth detection capabilities.

The resolution of a radar is proportional to the size of the antenna, and the resolution attained here should be sufficient to pick up almost anything.

Conformal radar arrays are now being prototyped(Subscription Required)
Aviation Week & Space Technology
06/25/2007, page 51

David A. Fulghum
El Segundo, Calif.

Radars could be mounted on football-field-size plastic sheets

Printed headline: Beyond Big

Conformal radar arrays that a year ago were only concepts are now being prototyped. Large apertures are being designed as skin to hug the complex curves of aircraft wings and fuselages.

A massive structure under construction by Raytheon will form one side of a three-football-field-long airship. About six million elements will make up the 6,000-sq.-meter antenna, says Mark Hauhe, a senior fellow working on advanced radar concept demonstrators.

Third-generation AESA radars may be hundreds of yards long and use electrical components lithographed to a lightweight plastic-like material that is folded to form radiating elements.Credit: RAYTHEON CONCEPT

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