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Abstract

A wire antenna having a Vivaldi taper that is used to radiate or receive low frequency RF energy from or to an airborne platform. The antenna comprises two conducting wires that trail from the platform, and which comprise a radiator having a Vivaldi taper. The shape of the conducting wires is maintained by a combination of aerodynamic drag on the conducting wires, a weight connected to the end of the lower wire, a chute connected to the end of the upper wire, and nonconducting guy-wires connecting the upper and lower conducting wires. The nonconducting guy-wires are positioned at locations between the upper and lower conducting wires to form and maintain an optimal taper between the conducting wires. A method of deploying a Vivaldi antenna from an airborne platform is also disclosed. A lower conducting wire is attached to the enclosure, and an upper conducting wire is attached to a chute. The antenna and chute are stored in the enclosure, and the enclosure is disposed beneath the platform. The platform is then flies along a flight path. The antenna is partially unrolled from the spool, and the enclosure drops from beneath the platform as the antenna is unrolled. The enclosure remains attached to the lower conducting wire, allowing a feed for the antenna to remain fixed on the platform. The antenna is further unrolled so that the enclosure becomes a weight for the lower conducting wire. The upper wire is then released from the enclosure with chute attached, and the upper wire is pulled upwards by the chute to fully deploy the antenna in the desired shape.

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First Claim