The main part of the system, the positioner, sweeps the radome through azimuth, elevation and roll to precisely simulate a moving radar antenna. Simultaneously, the positioner counter-steers the receive antenna in the azimuth plane in order to remain aligned (on boresight) directly with the transmit antenna. This pattern is performed initially without the radome installed to create a base line measurement, then with the radome to obtain loss data. Any readings differing from the base line are considered to be caused by the radome.
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Electronic Systems Division © 1987-2012 Mercer Engineering Research Center 135 Osigian Blvd. • Warner Robins, GA 31088 info@merc-mercer.org • www.merc-mercer.org • 478.953.6800 Radome Test Stand Accuracy of the positioner: C-17/C5 Radome Test Station The C-17 / C-5 Radome Test Station (RTS) will test the nose and tail radomes for anomalies as a screening process before repair and serviceability after the radomes have been repaired. The RTS is a complex system comprised in part by a seven axis radome positioner, an RF source, RF receiver, transmit antenna, reference antenna, test antenna, and RF data collection software. The RF source and transmit antenna are located approximately 500 feet down range from the remaining components of the RTS and are controlled by the PC Workstation data collection software via remote control.C-17/C5 Radome Test StationC-17/C5 Radome Test StationC-17/C5 Radome Test StationC-17/C5 Radome Test Station