Low-Profile Array With Reduced Radar Cross Section by Using Hybrid Frequency Selective Surfaces

Abstract

A solution for reducing the radar cross section (RCS) of amicrostrip antenna based on the use of frequency selective surfaces (FSSs) is described. The goal is accomplished by replacing the solid ground plane of the device with a hybrid structure comprising a suitable FSS. The behavior of the hybrid ground plane illuminated by a plane wave is analyzed by using a periodic method of moments (PMM), and it is modeled by resorting to a transmission- line equivalent circuit. Similarly, the propagation of the quasi-TEM mode along the modified feeding line of the array is represented by an equivalent circuit for surface waves. The two simplified analyses provide useful design criteria for the hybrid ground structure. The presented solution guarantees a decrease of the out-of-band radar signature of the target while preserving the desired in-band radiation characteristics of the low-profile array. A careful comparison to alternative configurations employing different ground planes has revealed the superior performance of the proposed design. Measurements on a realized prototype show a good agreement with simulations and prove the reliability of the design approach

Application of Bionics in Frequency Selective Surface Design and Antenna Radar Cross Section Reduction

“…The goal of reducing antenna RCS in this section is accomplished by replacing the solid ground plane of an antenna array with the proposed bionic FSS. The idea of replacing the ground plane of an antenna with a FSS to reduce the RCS dates back to 2003 when this concept was applied to a reflectarray [17]. The application of this principle is straightforward since the FSS behaves as a solid electric conductor for plane waves in its stop band.…”

A New Method for Designing Low RCS Patch Antenna Using Frequency Selective Surface

“…It is well known that frequency selective surfaces (FSSs), both band-pass and band-stop FSSs, are widely used for out-of band RCS reduction of antennas. A suitable shaped bandpass radome placed in front of the antenna [2][3][4] or used as the metallic ground of the patch antenna [5] can significantly reduce the out-of-band RCS of any antenna. Besides, the band-stop FSS can be used as backing reflector to reduce the out-of-band RCS [6].…”

A Frequency Selective Surface With Polarization Rotation Based on Substrate Integrated Wavwguide

“…It is difficult to design and fabricate EM metamaterials due to complex structures and non-periodic unites. On the other hand, FSSs are widely used in radomes, antenna reflectors, EM absorbers, electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) materials, and electromagnetic shields in the microwave and millimeter wave fields [15][16][17][18].…”