Modular active phased array

1. An antenna subassembly for an active electronically scanned array, comprising:

a patch radiator,

a forward housing, coupled to the patch radiator, including:

a radio frequency manifold,

a plurality of transmit/receive modules, and

a circulator coupled to the radio frequency manifold, and

an aft housing, coupled to the forward housing, including:

a power supply,

a removable covering,

an array driver, and

a beam steering control module.

2. The antenna subassembly of claim 1 , where the power supply, the array driver and the beam steering control module form a line replaceable unit.

3. The antenna subassembly of claim 2 , where the line replaceable unit is accessible after the removable covering has been removed.

4. The antenna subassembly of claim 2 , where the power supply includes:

a high voltage power supply;

a low voltage power supply;

an auxiliary power supply; and

a power filter.

5. The antenna subassembly of claim 1 , where the forward housing further comprises a lower forward housing and an upper forward housing.

6. The antenna subassembly of claim 5 , where the circulator is housed in the lower forward housing, the plurality of transmit/receive modules are housed in the upper forward housing, and the lower forward housing is separable from the upper forward housing.

7. The antenna subassembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bus bar coupled to the power supply.

8. The antenna subassembly of claim 1 , further comprising a coldplate coupled to one of the plurality of transmit/receive modules.

9. The antenna subassembly of claim 1 , where the transmit/receive modules are designed for high power applications.

10. The antenna subassembly of claim 1 , where the patch radiator has a coincident phase center.

11. The antenna subassembly of claim 1 , where the patch radiator has a plurality of polarizations.

12. The antenna subassembly of claim 1 , where the circulator is a modular circulator.

13. The antenna subassembly of claim 1 , where the forward housing includes a plurality of independent subarrays.

14. The antenna subassembly of claim 1 , where the circulator may be accessed without draining of a liquid coolant.

15. An antenna assembly, comprising:

a structural grid, including:

a plurality of continuous beam members,

a plurality of splices coupled to the continuous beam members and crossing over the top of, or under the bottom of, the plurality of continuous beam members, and

a plurality of discontinuous beam members coupled to the splices; and

a front structure coupled to the structural grid, including:

a walkway, and

a radome coupled to the front structure;

where each of the plurality of continuous beam members has one or more notches configured to allow the plurality of splices to cross over or under.

16. The antenna assembly of claim 15 , where the radome is comprised of fiberglass.

17. The antenna assembly of claim 15 , where at least one continuous beam member is substantially perpendicular to at least one discontinuous beam member.

18. The antenna assembly of claim 15 , where at least one discontinuous beam member is substantially vertical.

19. The antenna assembly of claim 15 , where the structural grid houses a plurality of antenna subassemblies, the subassemblies including:

a patch radiator,

a forward housing, coupled to the patch radiator, including:

a radio frequency manifold,

a plurality of transmit/receive modules, and

a circulator coupled to the radio frequency manifold, and

an aft housing, coupled to the forward housing, including:

a power supply,

a removable covering,

an array driver, and

a beam steering control module.

20. The antenna assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of radio frequency cables.

21. The antenna assembly of claim 15 , where each of the plurality of discontinuous beam members is secured to:

(i) a continuous beam member of the plurality of continuous beam members, and

(ii) a splice of the plurality of splices that is secured to the continuous beam member of the plurality of continuous beam members.

22. The antenna assembly of claim 15 , where each of the plurality of discontinuous beam members is secured to:

(i) one splice of the plurality of splices that crosses over the top of one of the plurality of continuous beam members, and

(ii) another splice of the plurality of splices that crosses under the bottom of the one of the plurality of continuous beam members.

23. The antenna assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of antenna subassemblies assembled together on the structural grid to function as a larger antenna.

24. The antenna assembly of claim 23 , where each of the plurality of antenna subassemblies comprises a patch radiator.

25. An antenna assembly for an active electronically scanned array, comprising:

a planar dual polarization, coincident phase center foam based patch radiator;

a lower forward housing, coupled to the patch radiator, having a first side and a second side with a first set of four walls, containing;

a plurality of modular circulators, coupled to the second side and surrounded by the first set of four walls;

an RF manifold coupled to the modular circulators;

an upper forward housing, having a first side coupled to the first set of four walls, and a second side with a second set of four walls, containing;

a plurality of coldplate and power logic board pairs, and each coldplate provides conductive cooling;

a plurality of S-Band transmit/receive modules coupled to each coldplate and power logic board pair,

an aft housing, coupled to the upper forward housing, including:

a first side;

an assembly;

a coolant distribution manifold;

a removable cover;

a plurality of bus bars; and

a plurality of line replaceable units coupled to the first side of the aft housing with wedgelocks and injectors, including:

a high voltage power supply;

a low voltage power supply;

an array driver;

an auxiliary power supply;

a power filter; and

a beam steering control module.