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Deep depression angle calibration of airborne direction finding arrays

  • US 6,806,837 B1
  • Filed: 08/09/2002
  • Issued: 10/19/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. In the system for calibrating an antenna array on an aircraft used for direction finding by flying the aircraft relative to a calibration antenna, a method for calibrating the array for deep depression angles comprising the steps of:

  • providing a scale model of the aircraft with an antenna array having antennas located at the same positions as on the aircraft;

    locating the scale model in a range at a distance from a calibrating antenna;

    collecting data from the scale model at various calibration frequencies, azimuths and depression angles relative to the calibrating antenna to provide model-derived data;

    flying the aircraft at a distance from the calibrating antenna so as to collect baseline data at a predetermined shallow depression angle, and, combining the baseline data at the shallow depression angle with model-derived data at both the shallow depression angle and other depression angles to create an array manifold for compensating output of the antenna array on the aircraft, whereby accurate direction finding can be achieved when the aircraft files directly over a source of electromagnetic radiation.

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