Understanding How Military Antennas Actually Work in Practice

Want to know how military personnel communicates when they’re in the field?

The military uses only the best equipment to protect our women and men in the field. Military work is not limited to combat and gunpower. One of the biggest challenges our soldiers face is secure communication.

Military personnel often carry sensitive info and require a secure channel to pass it on. Experts have developed new and advanced military antennas for this use.

How do they work? This article covers how military-grade antennas work. Read on to discover more.

Long-Distance Communication

Antennas generally consist of two pieces. The first component is the antenna itself, which serves as a receiver to pick up signals. The transmitter allows the device to communicate these signals.

The transmitter picks up signals from various frequencies, ranging from VHF and UHF.

VHF, or Very High Frequency, offers a larger bandwidth. There is also less chance of white noise between transmissions. This is most often seen in marine communication and air control.

You can see UHF, or Ultra High Frequency) in various applications in our daily life. This can range from WiFi and BlueTooth to GPS and TV broadcasting. Radios use UHF as they require a smaller antenna.

Types of Antennas

With a broad range of frequencies, the military has to work with different kinds of antennas. Each antenna will depend on the size of wavelengths. Here are the different antennas and how they apply to different specializations.

Wideband and Radar Antenas

Radar antennas are essential for mobile communication in the field. To gather information from various frequencies, however, the military may use wideband antennas. This type of antenna is available in omnidirectional and directional options.

This is great for soldiers who must stay connected with their base. One may also use this to communicate over uneven terrain. Ultra-high band antennas lessen the chances of signal interference.

Microwave Antennas

Microwave antennas are great for astronomy and electronic defense. Remote sensing and space communication work within microwaves.

In the field, microwave antennas are great for line-of-sight communication. This includes surveillance and tracking enemy vehicles.

Tactical Antennas

Military personnel uses tactical antennas for combat communication. Its smaller size makes it easier for units to work it into their equipment. Military units may also have ground-mounted dipoles to communicate with other units over long distances.

Anti-Spoofing Antennas

Anti-spoofing antennas are the latest innovation in the military’s roster. Soldiers in the field rely on navigation, positioning, and timing to succeed. They turn to the Air Force to give that information.

Currently, the military still functions on GPS signals. However, these signals are vulnerable to jamming and spoofing technology.

This is where CRPA or controlled reception pattern antennas come in. Next-generation military platforms have already begun the transition to this new antenna system. You can learn more about CRPA capabilities here.

Now You Know How Military Antennas Work

These are the different kinds of military antennas and their applications. However, antenna technology will only continue to grow to new heights. Experts are even looking for ways to implement antennas into geo applications.

Want to learn more about the latest technology? Check out our other blog posts to discover more.

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