A Conceptual Unified RF Front-end Architecture for SATCOM-MANET Integration in VTOL Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
Keywords:
Antenna integration, Electromagnetic compatibility, MANET, RF front-end, SATCOM, SWaP constraints, VTOL uncrewed aircraft systemsAbstract
Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft systems are being used increasingly in missions that demand flexible deployment, extended operational reach, and dependable communications in environments where infrastructure may be unavailable, damaged, or unreliable. As these platforms are expected to support both beyond-line-of-sight satellite communications and local tactical networking, integrating satellite communication (SATCOM) and mobile ad hoc network (MANET) subsystems on a single airframe has become an important RF engineering challenge. This challenge involves not only communication performance, but also size, weight, and power limitations, restricted antenna placement space, and the risk of electromagnetic interference among closely integrated RF subsystems. This study proposes a conceptual unified RF front-end architecture for SATCOM-MANET integration in VTOL uncrewed aircraft systems. Using a qualitative engineering approach, the study examines subsystem coordination, antenna placement strategy, self-interference mitigation, and communication resilience in dynamic RF environments. The proposed framework is intended to provide a conceptual foundation for future simulation, hardware prototyping, and experimental validation of multi-band airborne communication architectures.
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