• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1380-1393
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• 2010

This paper presents a design, fabrication and the test results of planar active electronically scanned array(AESA) radar prototype for airborne fighter applications using transmit/receive(T/R) module hybrid technology. LIG Nex1 developed a AESA radar prototype to obtain key technologies for airborne fighter's radar. The AESA radar prototype consists of a radiating array, T/R modules, a RF manifold, distributed power supplies, beam controllers, compact receivers with ADC(Analog-to-Digital Converter), a liquid-cooling unit, and an appropriate structure. The AESA antenna has a 590 mm-diameter, active-element area capable of containing 536 T/R modules. Each module is located to provide a triangle grid with $14.7\;mm{\times}19.5\;mm$ spacing among T/R modules. The array dissipates 1,554 watts, with a DC input of 2,310 watts when operated at the maximum transmit duty factor. The AESA radar prototype was tested on near-field chamber and the results become equal in expected beam pattern, providing the accurate and flexible control of antenna beam steering and beam shaping.