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Structurally integrated antenna arrays provide synergies allowing the integration of large apertures onto airborne platforms. However, the surrounding airframe can greatly impact the performance of the antenna array. This paper presents a sensor-driven preliminary wing ground plane sizing approach to provide insight into the implications of design decisions on payload performance. The improvement of a wing-integrated antenna array that utilizes the wing as a ground plane motivated this study. Relationships for wing span, wing chord, and thickness are derived from extensive parametric electromagnetic simulations based on optimum antenna performance. It is expected that these equations would be used after an initial wing-loading design point has been selected to provide the designer guidance into how various wing parameters might affect the integrated antenna performance.

In this letter, we present the novel design of a near-high frequency antenna for a small unmanned aircraft systems helicopter for the intended purpose of sounding and imaging temperate glaciers. The antenna leverages concepts in the areas of efficient electrically small antennas, structural antennas, and impedance matching to create a versatile design that is small and lightweight yet robust for airborne operations and has wider bandwidth than existing designs.