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Improved mini Ku band antenna for TCDL

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Army
Contract: W911W6-09-C-0025
Agency Tracking Number: A082-126-1420
Amount: $119,674.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: A08-126
Solicitation Number: 2008.2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2008
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2008-10-22
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2009-04-21
Small Business Information
4865 Sterling Drive
Boulder, CO 80301
United States
DUNS: 125961123
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: Yes
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Farzin Lalezari
 Principal Investigator
 (303) 449-5211
 flalezari@firstrf.com
Business Contact
 Theresa Boone
Title: Chief Operating Officer
Phone: (303) 449-5211
Email: tboone@firstrf.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Current airborne datalink systems often suffer from dropped links when the aircraft maneuvers and the antenna’s main beam points away from the ground- or air- based receive node. The result is an interrupted mission. An antenna system is required that is lightweight, compact and ruggedized which provides constant hemispherical coverage even during aircraft maneuver scenarios. FIRST RF has a unique solution to this problem combining novel RF aperture techniques and mechanical stabilization that provides a hemispherical gain pattern always pointed towards the earth. This approach incorporates multiple antenna apertures with an appropriate power distribution network which outputs a constant power envelope to the air or ground node. The FIRST RF approach is portable to Army air assets both large and small, though the proposed approach specifically considers Shadow as its target platform, due to the increased restraints on size, weight and power aboard this platform. To this end, FIRST RF has developed a truly novel yet affordable and robust system which provides Army with a new capability.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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