Nuvotronics 2-arm Spiral & 4-arm Sinuous Antennas improve SWaP for 18-60GHz airborne applications
Nuvotronics' Spiral and Sinuous Antennas are designed to endure extreme mechanical shock and weather conditions typical of airborne defense systems without compromising performance.
Our antennas utilize our Polystrata® technology to deliver:
- An antenna feed structure which integrates signal conditioning components within the micro-miniature transmission line assembly
- Optimal combination of low loss and bandwidth
- Industry-leading antenna gain and beamwidth over a 3:1 bandwidth
- Excellent unit-to-unit amplitude and phase consistency—key requirements of radar warning and precision direction systems
Nuvotronics offers a market-leading, cavity-backed, 2-arm Spiral Antenna in a 1/2 inch diameter package.
The 2-arm antenna includes an integrated wideband balun and can be configured as right or left with either a 2.92 mm, 2.40 mm, or 1.85 mm connector.
- 18 - 60 GHz coverage
- 3 - 7 dBi realized gain
- Boresight axial ratio better than 2 dB
- 0.5” diameter package, excluding mounting flange, weighs 10.1 grams (Typ.)
Nuvotronics delivers the first 18-40 GHz dual-polarized, 4-arm Sinuous Antenna for airborne EW applications.
The 4-arm antenna is offered in a dual circular and dual linear configuration with a SMPM (GPPO) connector interface.
- 18 - 50 GHz coverage
- 3 dBi realized gain
- SMPM (GPPO) connector interface
- 0.5” diameter package, weigh 10 grams (Max)
Revolutionizing EW with Nuvotronics: Compact, Dual-Polarized Antennas for Advanced Millimeter Wave Threat Detection
Modern airborne radar warning receivers and electronic support systems typically utilize cavity-backed spiral antennas for signal reception due to their inherently wide field of view and ability to support wide operational bandwidths. Two-arm spiral antennas are inherently circularly polarized, and pairs of left-hand and right-hand spirals can be utilized when dual-polarization is required. A more compact dual-polarization solution replaces the pair of two-arm spirals with a single, four-arm sinuous antenna. A well-design sinuous antenna exhibits nearly the same radiation characteristics of a pair of spiral antennas while occupying half the area and with the additional benefit of co-located phase centers for the two polarizations. The four-arm sinuous antenna thus represents the premier solution for low-SWAP platforms that require efficient detection of any arbitrary polarization. However, utilization of sinuous antennas has remained limited to systems operating below 18 GHz due to challenges associated with fabricating and assembling the micro-miniature feed network that is required for the sinuous antenna to operate efficiently at higher frequencies.
In the ever-evolving landscape of electronic warfare and secure communications, operation in the 18-40 GHz frequency range and beyond is essential for next-generation EW systems. Nuvotronics is at the cutting edge of this evolution, offering both two-arm spiral and four-arm sinuous antennas, designed specifically to address modern millimeter wave threats. The four-arm sinuous antenna is a groundbreaking development, representing an industry first dual-polarized four-arm antenna covering the 18-40 GHz band that occupies the same footprint as a single spiral antenna. Nuvotronics proprietary manufacturing methods solve all the previous challenges with micro-miniature feed network construction without sacrificing any RF performance. In parallel, the 2-arm spiral antennas offered by Nuvotronics provide exceptional flexibility and extend frequency coverage up to beyond 60 GHz. By offering various standard input connectors—2.92, 2.4, or 1.85 mm—antennas can be configured to adapt to a wide range of platforms while maintaining consistent performance.
As the EW industry continues to demand more sophisticated and adaptable solutions, Nuvotronics remains committed to driving innovation and setting new benchmarks. Our advanced antenna technologies not only meet but exceed the evolving needs of modern electronic warfare, ensuring that our customers remain at the forefront of this dynamic field.