Dual-band System composed by a Photonics-based Radar and a Focal-Point/Cassegrain Parabolic Antenna

Abstract This work reports a dual-band radar system composed of aphotonics-based transceiver and a unique dual-band antenna. The proposed antenna consists of an integration of conventional focal-point and Cassegrain parabolic antennas in the same structure, ensured by using a subreflector based on a frequency selective surface. Numerical and experimental results in terms of the antenna reflection coefficient, radiation pattern and gain are reported with excellent agreement over both frequency ranges. The innovative dual-band photonics-based radar transceiver operates simultaneously in the S- and X-bands. The radar system has been properlyvalidated by multiple detections of helicopters and airplanes in real conditions.