What does a radome do?
A radome (a portmanteau of radar and dome) is a structural, weatherproof enclosure that protects a radar antenna. The radome is constructed of material that minimally attenuates the electromagnetic signal transmitted or received by the antenna, effectively transparent to radio waves.
How much does a radome cost?
New radomes can range from about $3000 in exchange programs to as much as $51,000 for a giant Airbus dome in a pristine new condition.
What are the two general types of radome?
There are two general types of radomes. The “thin wall” and “sandwich” types. Thin wall devices are considered to be thin relative to the wavelength of the radar. They are useful when the frequency is low enough to permit a skin thickness which will satisfy the structural requirements.
What is radome testing?
Transmissivity is a measure of how well the radome transmits electromagnetic energy. The purpose behind testing radomes. Aircraft radomes are subject to damage from a number of common sources including bird-strikes, hail damage, and bumping hangar doors or maintenance equipment.
Are radomes pressurized?
Protected from the environment, radome extends the component lifetime, reducing maintaining costs of the antenna system. Utilizing DUOL high strength, UV resistant materials with a robust and reliable pressurization system, radome can operate in extreme weather conditions.
What is radome loss?
Radome transmission loss is the sum of the ordinary insertion loss of the antenna (radar) signal passing through the radome wall plus the scattering loss off the radome panel framework blocking (shadowing) the antenna aperture.
How much paint thickness is allowed on the radome surface?
The final coat is then applied very carefully to make sure that there is a good cover of paint, but not so much as to exceed the maximum allowed thickness of 0.002 inches. After the coating has been applied, the radome is allowed to dry for eight to ten hours before it is demasked.
What material is the radome made of?
Because they protect sensitive instruments while allowing electronic signals to pass through, nose cones – also known as radomes – must be made from specific materials. These materials often include fiberglass, quartz, honeycomb and foam cores; as well as various chemical resins.
What is the best material for a radome?
In all radome applications, polyurethane foams offer an effective solution for cost effective materials that are both versatile and robust. Easily optimized material allows for high performance with low dielectric interference.
What are aircraft radomes made of?
What is a missile radome?
The radome is a protective interface between the mis- sile tracking system and the atmosphere. It is aerodynam- ically efficient and minimally obstructive to radar track- ing signals in the radio frequency band. New missile performance capabilities will render conventional radome design standards inadequate.
What kind of damage can a radome do?
Radomes are subject to various damage, including hail, bird strikes and impact damage from ground structures like hangar doors and maintenance equipment. Any damage to the radome makes it susceptible to moisture ingression into the layers of fiberglass, which can block the specific frequency (s) from reaching the weather radar.
Where is the radome located on an aircraft?
Radome assemblies protect the weather radar housed on the nose of aircraft. Weather radars operate at specific frequencies, which the radome assembly must allow to effectively pass through to allow the equipment to properly operate.
Can a radome be repaired on an airplane?
Aviation Technical Services can inspect and repair a wide variety of items related to effective airplane radome performance. We also offer comprehensive airplane radome testing. All inspected / repaired radomes will be returned to service with a final transmissivity report and 8130-3.
Why does a weather radar need a radome?
Consider for a moment the purpose of a weather radar system: identifying hazardous weather conditions in an aircraft’s path. It is searching for water in the air ahead. A compromised radome will trap water inside of the aircraft’s nose cone, essentially creating a layer of water between the antenna and the outside environment.