SPIKE a physical optics based code for the analysis of antenna radome interactions

Presents a new physical optics based radome code SPIKE which has been used by SELEX S&AS to assess the impact of radomes on antenna performance. After a brief summary of the mathematical basis of the code, some advantages of Physical Optics, such as the ability to predict 2^nd flashlobes and calculate the near fields in the vicinity of the antenna, are demonstrated. Finally, a comparison of flight trials data with results obtained from SPIKE, in conjunction with the radar detection model GARD, is made.