Circular Polarized High Gain Helical Antenna for SATCOM Ground Station AH-280, 243-318MHz, 12dBi Gain

The AH-280 is a professional-grade, high-gain Circular Polarized Helical Antenna specifically engineered for SATCOM ground stations and tactical terrestrial links. Operating in the 243–318 MHz band, this antenna utilizes advanced helical winding technology to deliver an elite 12 dBic gain. Designed for maximum survivability in extreme theaters, the AH-280 is the definitive choice for satellite tracking, offering full hemispherical coverage with integrated Azimuth and Elevation steering.

Circular Polarization Advantage
The AH-280 utilizes Circular Polarization Antenna Technology (available in both RHCP and LHCP models). This is critical for SATCOM as it significantly minimizes multipath interference and signal fading caused by atmospheric rotation (Faraday effect). With an Axial Ratio of 1.5 dB and a Cross Polarization Rejection of 22 dB, it ensures a high-fidelity link even with satellites low on the horizon.

Strategic Dual-Axis Manual Tracking & Steering (Azimuth & Elevation)
The AH-280 is supplied with a specialized mounting arrangement that allows the operator to steer the antenna in both the horizontal and vertical planes.
• Azimuth (Horizontal Plane): The mechanism allows for a full 360-degree rotation. This ensures
• the antenna can be oriented toward any compass heading, facilitating communication with
• satellites at any orbital position relative to the ground station.
• Elevation (Vertical Plane): When mounted on a horizontal mast or pole, the steering mechanism
• permits adjustment from 0 to 90 degrees. This allows for "horizon-to-zenith" tracking, which is
• essential for communicating with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites as they pass overhead or for
• locking onto Geostationary (GEO) satellites.

RADOME: All-Weather Hardening
The radiating element—made of heavy-duty enameled copper—is secured within a high-strength fiberglass radome. This cylindrical housing provides an IP66 rating, protecting the internal components from ice formation, sandstorms, and driving rain while maintaining a low wind-loading profile. The metallic reflector is treated with epoxy-based electrostatic powder coating for total defense against salt spray and UV radiation.

Detailed Technical Features
The AH-280 utilizes advanced Helical technology to provide a wideband solution that eliminates the need for multiple antenna systems.
• Wideband Signal Integrity: Provides a constant 12 dBic gain across the entire 243–318 MHz band,
• ensuring seamless operation with multi-mode tactical receivers.
• Circular Polarization Excellence: Available in both RHCP and LHCP models. This technology
• minimizes multipath interference and mitigates signal fading caused by atmospheric rotation
• (Faraday Effect).
• Elite Axial Ratio: Maintains a precision Axial Ratio of 1.5 dB, ensuring a nearly perfect circular
• pattern for superior penetration through obstructions.
• Strategic Directivity: Features a balanced 42° beam-width in both horizontal and vertical planes,
• providing an ideal aperture for tracking moving satellite targets.
• Signal Isolation: Robust Front-to-Back Ratio of 21 dB and Cross-Polarization Rejection of 22 dB
• provide maximum isolation from co-channel interference.
• High Link Margin: Features a G/T Ratio of -15 dB/K, critical for pulling weak signals from the noise
• floor during low-horizon satellite passes.

Detailed Mechanical Features
Built for permanent installation in punishing environments, the mechanical architecture focuses on stability and precision tracking.
• Aviation-Grade Materials: The reflector is constructed from 6061T6 aluminum alloy, and the
• radiating elements are made of heavy-duty enameled copper wire.
• Integrated Tracking Mount: Supplied with a specialized mounting arrangement for dual-axis
• steering:
o Azimuth: 360° continuous rotation.
o Elevation: 0° to 90° adjustment (when mounted on a horizontal pole).
• Advanced Radome Protection: The entire array is enclosed in a high-strength, cylindrical
• fiberglass radome. This protects elements from ice, sand, and wind while providing an
• aesthetically pleasing, low-drag profile.
• Marine-Grade Fasteners: All mounting hardware and brackets are manufactured from Type 316
• Stainless Steel to prevent oxidation and hardware seizure.
• Tactical Finish: All metallic surfaces are treated with epoxy-based electrostatic powder coating in
• Military Green (RAL 6003) or customized for UV and corrosion resistance.
• Logistics: Overall radome length of 1500 mm with a gross weight of 25 Kgs, including the tracking
• hardware.

Detailed Environmental & MIL-STD-810G Features
The AH-280 is rigorously hardened to maintain electrical and structural integrity in the most extreme theaters.
• Thermal Window: Fully operational in extreme climates from -40°C to +71°C (MIL-STD-810G,
• Method 500.5 & 502.5).
• Wind & Ice Resilience:
o No Ice: Rated for survival in winds up to 200 Km/Hr (125 MPH).
o With 1/2" Ice: Rated for survival in winds up to 160 Km/Hr (100 MPH).
• Theater Readiness: Salt Fog (Method 509.5): Total resistance to saline environments in coastal
• zones.
o Fungus Resistance (Method 508.6): Certified for long-term deployment in humid tropical
regions.
o Shock & Vibration (Method 516.6 & 514.6): Engineered to withstand high-impact events
and vehicle-mounted transportation stressors.
• Ingress Protection: IP66 Rated, providing a hermetic seal against powerful water jets and fine
• desert dust/sandstorms.

MIL-STD-461F Compliance
For electronic warfare and sensitive communication environments, the AH-280 meets strict electromagnetic compatibility standards.
• Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC): Designed and tested in accordance with MIL-STD-461F,
• ensuring that the antenna does not interfere with other sensitive electronic equipment on-site
• and remains resilient against external electromagnetic interference.
• RF Inter-modulation Prevention: Radiating elements are secured alongside the fiberglass
• enclosure wall to prevent movement, ensuring stable performance even in high-power RF
• environments and preventing signal distortion.

Application Summary
Feature Specification Tactical Advantage
Gain 12 dBic Long-range UHF SATCOM link margin.
Power Handling 250 Watts CW Supports high-capacity multi-band transceivers.
Manual Tracking 360° Az / 90° El Continuous manual tracking of LEO/GEO satellites.
Compliance MIL-STD-810G / 461F Mission-critical reliability in combat zones.

CE Certified
The CE Mark on our antennas indicates that the product complies with all applicable European health, safety, and environmental protection legislation.
• Radio Equipment Directive (RED) 2014/53/EU: Ensures that the antenna utilizes the radio
• spectrum efficiently and supports the electromagnetic compatibility requirements.
• Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU: Although antennas are passive components, our
• integrated systems and tracking mounts are tested to ensure they do not pose electrical risks to
• operators.
• EMC Directive 2014/30/EU: Validates that the antenna does not cause or suffer from undue
• electromagnetic interference, aligning with our MIL-STD-461F internal standards.

RoHS Compliance (Restriction of Hazardous Substances)
We strictly adhere to the RoHS 3 Directive (2015/863/EU), which restricts the use of specific hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types of electronic and electrical equipment.
• Lead-Free Construction: We utilize lead-free soldering and ensure that all metallic coatings
• (including the enameled copper and aluminum alloys) are free from restricted substances.
• Material Screening: Our components are screened for:
o Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), and Cadmium (Cd)
o Hexavalent chromium
o Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) and Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE)
o Phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP)

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & Restriction of Chemicals)
In compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, we ensure that our manufacturing processes do not utilize Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC).
• Chemical Safety: The enameled coatings on our copper windings and the fiberglass resins in our
• radomes are evaluated to ensure they do not outgas or leach harmful chemicals during operation
• in high-temperature environments (+71 degrees Celsius).
• Supply Chain Transparency: We maintain records of all chemical substances used in our
• architectural aluminum anodizing and epoxy powder coating processes to ensure full REACH
• compliance.

WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
Following Directive 2012/19/EU, we provide guidelines for the responsible end-of-life disposal of our antenna systems to minimize environmental impact.
• Recyclability: Our antennas are primarily constructed from high-grade 6061T6/6063T6 Aluminum
• and Stainless Steel, which are highly recyclable materials.
• Disposal Marking: Products are marked with the "crossed-out wheeled bin" symbol, indicating
• that the equipment must not be disposed of with standard municipal waste but sent to specialized
• collection facilities for recovery and recycling.

Summary Table: EU Compliance Features
Standard Status Tactical/Environmental Benefit
CE Mark Compliant Legal deployment and frequency integrity across EU nations.
RoHS 3 Compliant Safe handling; zero hazardous heavy metal contamination.
REACH Compliant Verified chemical safety for long-term personnel exposure.
WEEE Supported High material recovery rate for aluminum and copper.

Key Advantages
• High-Efficiency Circular Polarization: Unlike linear antennas that suffer from signal fading as a
• satellite rotates, the AH-280 uses Circular Polarization (CP). This delivers consistent signal strength
• and superior penetration through physical obstructions, atmospheric moisture, and RF
• interference.
• Superior Link Budget: With a typical gain of 12 dBic and a high Front-to-Back ratio of 21 dB, the
• antenna ensures that the majority of RF energy is focused directly on the satellite, providing a
• reliable link even with assets low on the horizon.
• Minimal Multi-Path Interference: The helical design inherently rejects ground-reflected waves
• and multi-path signals, which is critical for ground stations located in complex terrain or urban
• environments.
• Integrated Tracking Capability: The antenna is supplied as a complete tracking solution, featuring
• a mount that allows for full 360° Azimuth and 0–90° Elevation steering without requiring
• additional third-party hardware.

Strategic Benefits
The enameled copper radiating elements are protected within a high-strength fiberglass radome. This IP66-rated enclosure prevents ice formation, protects against sand abrasion in desert theaters, and eliminates the need for periodic cleaning of the radiating elements.
Logistical Versatility
The AH-280 is designed to be a "single-antenna" solution for the 243–318 MHz band. It is compatible with a wide array of tactical Multi-Band Multi-Mode Receivers (MBMMR) and ground-to-air transceivers, reducing the number of spare antennas a unit must carry in the field.
Long-Term Reliability (MIL-STD)
Full compliance with MIL-STD-810G ensures that the antenna can withstand the shock and vibration of tactical transport, as well as the corrosive effects of salt fog and fungus in tropical or coastal zones.

Primary Applications
The primary mission of the AH-280 is establishing high-gain links with UHF satellites. Its steering mechanism makes it ideal for permanent or semi-permanent base stations that must track satellites across different orbital planes.
LEO & GEO Satellite Tracking
• LEO (Low Earth Orbit): The 0–90° elevation adjustment allows operators to follow LEO satellites
• from the moment they rise above the horizon until they reach their zenith.
• GEO (Geostationary): The high-torque locking mechanism ensures the antenna stays precisely
• aimed at geostationary assets for permanent backhaul.
Coastal & Maritime Security
The specialized epoxy-based powder coating and Type 316 Stainless Steel hardware make the AH-280 the definitive choice for offshore platforms and coastal monitoring stations where salt spray would quickly corrode standard hardware.
Terrestrial Point-to-Point Links
In high-interference environments, the AH-280 can be used for long-range terrestrial links. Circular polarization allows the signal to "bounce" more effectively in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions compared to vertical or horizontal polarization.

Circular Polarized High Gain Helical Antenna for SATCOM Ground Station AH-312, 240-380MHz, 12dBi Gain

The AH-312 circular polarized UHF SATCOM ground station helical antenna operates between 240-380MHz band, uses extended stubs to provide the greater gain while maintaining the wider beam-width. This high-gain (12dBic) low-profile UHF SATCOM ground station antennas use Circular Polarization Antenna Technology - which delivers better penetration through obstruction and interference. This military grade antenna provides superior performance as compared to significantly larger and more expensive products.

The AH-312 UHF SATCOM ground station helical antenna is supplied with a specially designed mounting arrangement for steering the antenna in both planes, over 360 Degrees in Azimuth and 0 to 70 Degrees in Elevation for terrestrial and satellite links. Elevation tracking can be done if antenna is mounted on horizontal mast/pole. Broadband design feature of UHF satcom ground station antenna makes it highly suitable for SATCOM application as SATCOM ground station antenna without having the requirement of multiple antennas. The circular polarized UHF SATCOM ground station helical antenna can be used for communicating with satellites low on the horizon. AH-312 can be used with most tactical Multi-Band, Multi-Mode Receivers (MBMMR), as well as all airborne and ground transceivers.

The AH-312 UHF SATCOM ground station helical antenna is supplied with a specially designed mounting arrangement to hold the antenna at back end by using two stainless steel mounting brackets to withstand the higher wind rating. If antenna is mounted on horizontal pole than its elevation angle can be adjusted/changed towards the satellite.

The epoxy-based electrostatic powder coating on all metallic surfaces ensures complete protection from the corrosive gases, ultraviolet radiation, salt spray, acid rain present in coastal areas and sandstorm environmental in dessert area. The antenna is designed as per MIL-STD-810G standards. Both LHCP and RHCP models are available. The part number for LHCP version is AH-312-LHCP and AH-312-RHCP is for RHCP Version. Cylindrical tapered radome/housing made of high strength fiberglass is used for complete weather protection.

The AH-312, like all our AH series UHF SATCOM ground station helical antennas, utilizes circular polarization to minimize the effects of multipath interference. Both Right Hand Circular Polarized (RHCP) and Left Hand Circular Polarized (LHCP) helical antenna models are available. The AH- 312 Helical Antenna is light weight, broadband and rugged helical antennas, supplied with high strength fiberglass radome to protect the antenna from environment.

Cylindrical enclosure is used for low wind loading and for minimal effect of ice formation on the UHF SATCOM ground station helical antenna operation as well as providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The antenna is designed as per MIL-STD-810G standards. The radiating element of circular polarized helical antenna is made of high-quality high strength enameled coated heavy duty copper wire and winding is secure alongside wall of fiberglass enclosure/radome to keep the winding/radiating elements to its appropriate location to prevent RF inter-modulation.

The circular polarized UHF SATCOM ground station helical antenna is completely protected within a high-tech ruggedized radome which is made of high strength fiber glass enclosure to ensure survivability in the worst environments conditions The heavy duty fiber glass enclosure has excellent transparency for RF signals and enough strength to withstand more than specified wind loads. Cylindrical enclosure is used for low wind loading and for minimal effect of ice formation on the high-power broad band UHF SATCOM ground station helical antenna operation as well as providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The antenna is supplied with olive green MIL color finish. Other customized housing/radome color can also be supplied on request.

For higher gain requirement, the UHF SATCOM ground station helical antenna can be supplied in DUAL stacked or QUAD stacked arrays formation with suitable power splitter/combiner cable harness. Customized color and customized mounting can also be supplied on request.

Please contact us for complete technical datasheet in pdf format including high resolution pictures, radiation patterns, Frequency vs VSWR graph, Frequency Vs Gain graph, electrical specification, mechanical specification and environmental specification.