PAGE CONTENTS
Objectives
The objective of the project is to design, develop, manufacture, and validate a dielectric lens-based radome for satellite communications that significantly reduces scanning losses at extreme scan angles. The solution aims to enhance antenna performance by improving gain stability, increasing usable field-of-view, and maintaining low side-lobe levels across the operational bandwidth.
The project leverages in-house ray-tracing algorithms and advanced electromagnetic design techniques combined with additive manufacturing to realise a multilayer dielectric lens structure capable of enhancing the realised gain of a phased array antenna at extreme scan angles. A key objective is to demonstrate a lightweight, compact, and mechanically robust solution compatible with additive manufacturing and space requirements.
Additionally, the project validates the performance of the developed lens-based radome through simulation and experimental testing, ensuring compliance with system-level requirements for next-generation high-capacity satellite communications. The final outcome is a flight-relevant technology with clear potential for integration into future satellite platforms.
Benefits
The proposed dielectric lens-based radome offers an improvement over conventional radome and antenna solutions, particularly in wide-angle scanning performance. By significantly increasing the gain at extreme angles, the radome enables a wider field-of-view and more uniform gain, directly enhancing link reliability and system capacity in high-throughput satellite communications.
Compared to traditional radomes, which often introduce additional losses and degrade radiation performance, the integrated lens approach actively improves electromagnetic behaviour. Furthermore, the use of additive manufacturing enables highly integrated, lightweight, and compact designs.
The solution is designed for compatibility with space requirements, offering mechanical robustness and reduced mass, which are critical for satellite integration.
Features
The product consists of a multilayer dielectric lens-based radome designed to enhance antenna performance of next-generation of satellite communications. The core component is a geometrically engineered dielectric lens that conforms electromagnetic wave propagation to reduce scan losses and maintain stable gain across a wide range of scanning angles.
The radome integrates multiple dielectric layers with tailored permittivity profiles, enabling precise control of phase distribution and minimising reflections and insertion losses. Its geometry is optimized using in-house developed ray tracing electromagnetic simulation tools to ensure good electromagnetic performance.
Additive manufacturing is employed to realize complex, highly integrated structures with high dimensional accuracy and material consistency. This enables lightweight and compact designs while reducing assembly complexity.
The product is designed for seamless integration with spacecraft, meeting constraints on size, mass, and mechanical interfaces. It is compatible with standard antenna architectures and supports scalable production.
Challenges
Key challenges include achieving low insertions losses at broadside and small scan angles while increasing the gain at extreme angles and therefore, maintain a stable gain level across the field of view. Integration with the spacecraft imposes strict constraints on size, weight, and mechanical interfaces.
System Architecture
The system architecture consists of an integrated antenna subsystem combining a dielectric lens-based radome with a baseline phased array antenna, forming a unified electromagnetic solution for next-generation high-throughput satellite communications. The architecture is based on a multilayer dielectric lens positioned above the antenna aperture, designed to manipulate the phase front and improve radiation characteristics, particularly at wide scanning angles.
The dielectric lens is composed of multiple layers with engineered permittivity profiles, enabling precise control of wave propagation, minimisation of reflections, and enhancement of aperture efficiency. The lens structure is mechanically supported and aligned to ensure consistent performance and repeatability.
The architecture is developed through a co-design approach, where electromagnetic, mechanical, and manufacturing constraints are addressed simultaneously. Additive manufacturing enables the realization of complex geometries and integrated features, reducing assembly requirements and ensuring structural integrity.
Plan
The project is structured in sequential phases, starting with requirements definition and system specification, followed by electromagnetic design and optimization of the dielectric lens-based radome. A preliminary design review (PDR) validates the concept before progressing to detailed design and additive manufacturing of prototypes. The system is then experimentally validated through RF testing and performance characterization. A critical design review (CDR) confirms readiness, followed by final validation and reporting, culminating in a final review (FR) to demonstrate compliance with all technical objectives.
Current Status
The project has successfully passed the Critical Design Review (CDR), confirming the maturity and feasibility of the proposed dielectric lens-based radome design. Key achievements include the completion of system requirements, electromagnetic design, and detailed engineering. The project is currently progressing towards prototype manufacturing using additive manufacturing techniques.
Upcoming activities include fabrication, integration with the antenna system, and experimental validation through RF testing, moving the technology towards demonstration in representative conditions.
