Development of a passive retrodirective Van Atta array reflector at X-band

Abstract

Retrodirective array reflectors have found many applications in the area of collision avoidance systems, satellite communications and enhancing RCS in general. This paper presents the development of a passive retrodirective Van Atta array reflector based on microstrip antenna operating at X-band. Theoretical analysis of the Van Atta array will be outlined, together with simulation results and RCS measurements of several passive Van Atta array prototypes. Future development in extending the bandwidth of the passive Van Atta array and further increase in RCS will also be discussed.