The nose cone radome houses the radar antenna. The antenna inside the dielectricLightning strike test on LCA model radome is a major electric field stress raiser at the front of the aircraft and will always be a potential lightning attachment point. Unless suitable protection scheme is in place, the lightning strike will puncture the radome wall and attach to the radar antenna,with the risk of severe damage to the radar antenna equipment as well as the radome. The protection scheme for the radome to protect it against the direct effects of lightning has been evolved through design studies and detailed experimentation. An optimum scheme has been worked out considering both radar performance and lightning protection .
The radome with the evolved scheme has successfully withstood high voltage and high current tests carried out as a part of qualification testing.
The high voltage tests proved the adequacy of protection scheme in preventing attachment to the radar antenna structure inside by puncturing the radome.
The high current tests carried out have verified the adequacy and efficiency of the scheme while ensuring the structural integrity of the radome.
