Wide-Angular Scanning Performance Enhancement in Linear Arrays via Combining Integrated In-line Subarrays and Amplitude Tapering

An advanced design, adding a significant first sidelobes level (FSLL) improvement to a previously introduced wide-angular-scanning, linear array prototype with demonstrated scan-loss compensation (SLC) and sidelobes suppression features is discussed. The linear array makes use of in-line subarrays for SLC and an additional amplitude taper in its central, uniform region for lowering the FSLL with as much as $4\mathrm{d}\mathrm{B}$ at $\pm 60^{\mathrm{o}}$ scanning ($13\mathrm{d}\mathrm{B}$ at $\pm 20^{\mathrm{o}}$ scanning). Several Taylor-type amplitudes tapers are compared, the best overall performance improvement being observed for a -18dB prototype taper. The advocated solution is highly suitable to high-sensitivity radars requiring a fast-scanning, fan-beam.