Pharad Featured as an Air Force “Success”

HANOVER, Md. - June 17, 2013 - PRLog -- Pharad’s conformal antenna research and development for counter Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) applications has been highlighted as a success through the Air Force SBIR/STTR Transition Program. During the program, Pharad designed and developed innovative, environmentally compliant, wideband conformal antenna technologies for both UAV systems and vehicle CREW systems.

The wideband conformal antenna technologies developed for UAV systems operate from UHF through S-band and are designed to minimize the number of required antennas. The reduced weight, improved aerodynamics, and increased link distance enables increased UAV flight range and persistence. Pharad’s UAV blade antennas were integrated onto a Scan Eagle UAV and realized a 15 mile link range at a 5000 feet altitude.

Similarly innovative, the wideband low profile antenna assembly for vehicle CREW systems developed through this program operates efficiently from VHF to S-band. Being less than 3” in height, it has a greatly reduced visual signature as compared to traditional antennas.

The new radiator technologies developed in this program also meet the requirements of other defense and commercial wideband communication systems that cover multiple RF frequency bands in physical environments where space is a premium. These applications include low observable antenna systems for the Special Operations units and other government agencies.

The sales of these products now represent Pharad’s fastest growing product line. “The development activities of this SBIR program have opened up a new market for us and broadened our customer base,” said Pharad president Austin Farnham. “We are pleased that the Air Force finds our R&D efforts to be a success and we look forward to working with them again in the near future.”

The SBIR Success Story (Transition) article can be found at: www.afsbirsttr.com/Publications/SBIRTransitionStories.aspx.
Topic: Conformal Antenna for Application to Jamming of IEDs
Topic #: AF083-147
Contract #: FA8650-10-C-1720
Technical Project Office: AFRL Sensors Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH