Aircraft Radomes

Aircraft radomes are basically the nose domes of aircraft behind which the radar sits and operates. Composite in structure, normally honeycomb construction with inner and outer laminate surfaces. Forward-facing aircraft antennas require two or more reflections to bring a wave parallel to the axis of revolution to a substantial point focus.

Composite repairs shop

Multiskilled composite technicians working in a composite repairs shop need to have

• Specialist low dielectric loss materials expertise, low dielectric loss being low loss of energy in a dielectric material through conduction, slow polarization currents, and other dissipative measures. A dielectric material is a substance that is a poor conductor of electricity, but an efficient supporter of electrostatic fields.
• Thermoset & Thermoplastic skills
• CAD structural modelling capability and software
• Knowledge of resin transfer moulding for radome applications
• Prepreg, compression and contact moulding facilities

Radome shop

A radome shop can work on

• Military aircraft nose radomes enclosing radar or missile systems
• Airborne surveillance radomes where the radome is a honeycomb structure shell with fibreglass skins. The thickness of the honeycomb and the skins vary according to electrical requirements. A steel lay-up tool with uniform wall thickness is used to achieve specific requirements like a thermal expansion coefficient as close as possible to that of the composite. Minimized weight, optimal thermal transfer and uniform temperature distribution are requirements.
• Wide band ECM and EW radomes, radomes which are electromagnetic windows protecting the enclosed antennas from environmental conditions without affecting their electrical characteristics.
• Helicopter Radomes with electrostatic discharge and electromagnetic interference (EMI) coatings.
• Civil aircraft radomes and civil airline nose radome repairs