South Korean troops use reconnaissance drones during training in this file photo provided by the Korea Army Academy.
SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has independently developed new antenna technology to improve the performance of high-speed aerial telecommunications networks, a state-run defense research agency said Tuesday.
The multi-beam active phased array antenna technology developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) can ensure simultaneous communication with four unmanned aircraft with a single antenna.
The method of active phased array arrangement, in which multiple tile-type multi-beam antennas are arranged in a cylinder shape, also enables 360-degree omnidirectional telecommunications.
A relay airplane mounted with a multi-beam antenna would enable the simultaneous operation of four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and an independent omnidirectional telecommunications link.
Unlike existing aerial telecommunications networks that deliver data via satellites, and are vulnerable to jamming or bad weather conditions, the multi-beam antenna can overcome such shortcomings, expanding the scope of operations for UAVs.
The ADD noted that the multi-beam antenna could also be applied in the private sector for the establishment of emergency telecommunications networks in radio shadow areas and 6G base station telecommunications.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
