Armor Embedded Metamaterial Antenna

The proposed program will show the feasibility of using armor-embedded metamaterial antennas that demonstrate both wideband RF performance and ballistic protection capability. The proposed program will incorporate materials with high levels of energy absorption under ballistic impact in constructions that meet the RF performance requirements. Thickness reduction and antenna bandwidth will be achieved by leveraging the wideband metamaterials currently being by JEM developed under an ongoing NAVAIR SBIR effort. Design feasibility will be assessed using electromagnetic modeling and ballistic testing in the basic effort. Proof of concept will be achieved in the Option phase, when RF and Ballistic performance will be measured on demonstration hardware.