Wideband Vivaldi Antenna for Reduced Radar Cross Section in Stealth Applications

Abstract

An unaccustomed reduced radar cross section (RRCS) design of an antipodal Vivaldi antenna (AVA) for stealth applications that operate over 4−20 GHz is investigated. RRCS is achieved by reducing the metal portion of the AVA and implementing semi-elliptical slots along the radiating wings of the antenna. These slots reduce the electromagnetic reflections along the wings of the AVA and hence the proposed antenna achieves better RCS values with the maximum peak reduction of −63.114 dBsm for $\theta ={60}^0$. The proposed antenna achieves RCS values lesser than −25 dBsm over the entire bandwidth and the performance of the fabricated prototype is further validated using measurements.

KEYWORDS:

• Antipodal Vivaldi antenna
• Monostatic radar cross section
• Semi-elliptical slots
• Stealth applications
• Wideband antenna

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST) [Project code: EEE-024].

Notes on contributors

C Priya

C Priya is currently working as an associate professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Karpagam College of Engineering, Coimbatore. She has completed her bachelor degree in electronics and communication engineering from Anna University, Chennai, in the year 2006, and she completed her master degree in computer and communication from Anna University, Chennai in the year 2008. She obtained her PhD in the area of digital image processing from Anna University Chennai in the faculty of information and communication engineering. She has more than 12 years of teaching experience in UG and PG levels. She has published more than 30 papers in various international/national journals and conferences. E-mail: [email protected]

C Ramya

C Ramya is currently working as an associate professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore. She has completed her bachelor degree in electronics and communication engineering from Madurai Kamaraj University in the year 2002, and she completed her master degree in communication systems from Anna University in the year 2004. She obtained her PhD in the area of digital image processing from Anna University, Chennai in the faculty of information and communication engineering. She has more than 15 years of teaching experience in the UG and PG levels. She has published more than 50 papers in various international/national journals and conferences and she worked in various sponsored projects and consultancy works. Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

J Aswini

J Aswini is currently pursuing her PG degree in wireless communication in PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore. She completed her bachelor's degree in electronics and communication engineering, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi. She has published a paper in an international journal and has worked in TNSCST sponsored project in 2019. E-mail: [email protected]