Modern military aircraft are becoming increasingly dependent on advanced electronic systems to perform tasks such as communication, navigation, surveillance, radar operation and electronic warfare. Rather than operating as standalone platforms, they are expected to exchange information with other aircraft, unmanned systems, ground stations and defence networks across multiple operational domains. As this level of connectivity grows, engineers must ensure that the many onboard electromagnetic systems work together reliably without interfering with one another. This has made electromagnetic engineering an important consideration throughout the aircraft design process, rather than only during final testing.
A modern aircraft contains a dense network of electromagnetic components, including:
- Radar apertures and communication antennas
- Navigation receivers and tactical data links
- Electronic warfare systems
- Cable harnesses and avionics bays
- Radomes and conductive airframe structures
Since these systems share both physical space and the electromagnetic spectrum, their interactions can influence communication, detection, survivability and electromagnetic compatibility.
The blog by Marco Kunze, highlights that SIMULIA CST Studio Suite is used to create detailed electromagnetic models of an aircraft, allowing engineers to analyse how antennas, radar, cables and electronic systems behave once installed rather than as individual components. The simulations can be used to evaluate antenna placement, identify electromagnetic interference, study radar cross-section, and assess the impact of lightning, electromagnetic pulses and high-intensity radiated fields on aircraft systems. When used with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, these simulation results can remain connected to design and engineering data as the aircraft evolves. As aircraft evolve into highly connected mission platforms, electromagnetic simulation is playing an increasingly important role in revealing how complex electronic systems interact, helping engineers address integration challenges long before an aircraft reaches the flight line.
Image generated by: ChatGPT