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