Multi-Domain RF Systems: Antenna, Radar, EW, and Satellite Communications Essentials

Radar and antenna systems are integral to modern aerospace, defense, and space-based communications technologies. Originating from early 20th-century needs for aircraft detection and long-range sensing, these technologies have evolved into tightly integrated radar, SATCOM, and electronic warfare (EW) systems supporting ISR, global connectivity, navigation, missile defense, and contested-spectrum operations.

This course provides a unified systems-level treatment of radar, antenna, satellite communications, and EW fundamentals. Students will study radar principles (Doppler, clutter, range equations), antenna theory grounded in electromagnetics, and RF hardware including HPAs, LNAs, and filters. Building on this foundation, the course introduces satellite communications architectures, including space and ground segments, orbital regimes (LEO/MEO/GEO), link budgets, modulation and coding, and military and commercial SATCOM frequency bands and services

The course culminates with an introduction to Electronic Warfare, examining how radar and SATCOM systems operate in contested electromagnetic environments, including electronic support (ES), electronic attack (EA), and electronic protection (EP).