Wide-Angular Scanning Performance Enhancement in Linear Arrays via Combining Integrated In-line Subarrays and Amplitude Tapering

Abstract

An advanced design, adding a significant first sidelobes level (FSLL) improvement to a previously introduced wide-angular-scanning, linear array prototype with demonstrated scan-loss compensation (SLC) and sidelobes suppression features is discussed. The linear array makes use of in-line subarrays for SLC and an additional amplitude taper in its central, uniform region for lowering the FSLL with as much as 4\mathrm{d}\mathrm{B} at \pm 60 {\mathrm{o}} scanning (13\mathrm{d}\mathrm{B} at \pm 20 {\mathrm{o}} scanning). Several Taylor-type amplitudes tapers are compared, the best overall performance improvement being observed for a -18dB prototype taper. The advocated solution is highly suitable to high-sensitivity radars requiring a fast-scanning, fan-beam.