Government agencies around the world are pressuring the industry to produce radar systems that can monitor broader areas of the sky and offer images with higher resolution and precision; therefore radar manufacturers plan to market antennas for civil air traffic control that operate at much higher frequencies (26 GHz) than those currently used (4 GHz), since the former provide the higher resolution required.
Additionally a number of satellite missions have been designed to operate at frequencies above the traditional S and X band, with ground station terminals preferably installed at Arctic (or Antarctic) regions in order to maximize the number of visible satellite passes.
Therefore there is a need of radomes capable to protect these kind of antennas and to resist harsh environments, most notably strong winds, low temperatures, and snow.
The goal of the project is to develop a new type of protective structure (radome) not interfering with high-frequency radar equipment, and capable to resist harsh weather conditions. Thanks to a multidisciplinary approach employing new materials, nanotechnology and advanced simulation technologies, it will be launched an innovative, spherical, self- supporting radome that will be capable to host radar equipment operating at 26 GHz.