Prototype radome exterior. Source | Rock West Composites (RWC)

On Aug. 11, Rock West Composites (RWC, San Diego, Calif., U.S.) announced that it successfully completed a prototype radome for Georgian Aerospace, LLC (Chesterfield, Mo., U.S.) using an innovative low-dielectric epoxy prepreg on quartz fabric that offers reduced cost compared to traditional low-dielectric materials. The prototype passed radio frequency (RF) testing to expected values in ranges competitive to more expensive materials. While testing the viability of the material for high-performance radomes, the program was also testing if the core material will be dielectrically compatible with this new quartz surface.

The prototype is RWC’s first use of this recently NCAMP-certified material developed by Renegade Materials (Miamisburg, Ohio, U.S.). The prototype radome comprises the Renegade RM-2014-LDk-Tk 4581 8HS quartz material and Rohacell foam core in a sandwich configuration. The panel was produced without tooling on a very compressed schedule. Without the added time and cost of tooling, systems-level RF testing was still possible while meeting delivery targets. The material itself also offers a lower-cost alternative to RWC’s current preferred material with very close dielectric compatibility; the prototype supports view angles as low as 25° and performs over 17.7-21.2 and 27.5-31 gigahertz. 

“Use of this [Renegade’s] material further enhances RWCs capability to quickly manufacture highly optimized radome panels,” says Adam Saunders, program manager, RWC. “The cost efficiency also expands the accessibility of an optimized radome to adjacent markets.”

RWC develops, engineers, manufactures and tests composite products for multiple industries including aerospace and defense (radomes; munitions; unmanned systems; reflectors), space (bus structures; solar array panels and wings; launch vehicle structures; optical, payload and deployable structures), aircraft (new and replacement parts) and commercial equipment (automation; medical; energy; and sporting). The company is also an ecommerce supplier of off-the-shelf carbon fiber tubes, plates, materials and accessories.