Estimation of Additional Power Loss of Millimeter-Wave Radio Signal
in a Precipitation Layer on a Radome
M. Yu. Zvezdina1, A. M. Shaposhnikova1, Yu. A. Shokova2, S. V. Lazarenko2, A. A. Kostoglotov2
1Rostov-on-Don Research Institute of Radio Communications.
2Don State Technical University.
DOI 10.24412/2410-9916-2026-3-239-280
Full text
XML JATSAbstract
Purpose. The utilization of the Ka, Q/V, and E frequency bands in satellite communication links results in a substantial increase in excess attenuation within the meteorological precipitation layer on the radio-transparent radomes (RTRs) of ground station antennas. Given the limited power budget of the radio link, this renders the search for solutions to mitigate such attenuation highly relevant. Existing methodologies for estimating this attenuation are primarily tailored for lower frequencies, characterized by attenuation magnitudes significantly smaller than those in the millimeter-wave band (MMWB). More critically, they fail to account for the physical mechanisms governing precipitation layer formation on radome surfaces with hydrophobic coatings, thereby yielding inaccurate estimates. Objective. This study aims to identify solutions for reducing excess attenuation of MMWB radio signals within the meteorological precipitation layer on radome surfaces featuring hydrophobic coatings. Proposed approach. To this end, we propose the development of a novel estimation technique for excess MMWB signal attenuation in the precipitation layer on radomes, explicitly incorporating the formation dynamics of the layer. Methods. The extended method of meteorological electromagnetics is utilized to decouple the processes of determining the electrodynamic parameters of the precipitation layer and its spatial distribution over the radome surface from the direct assessment of excess attenuation. Novelty. The key novelty of the proposed technique lies in its approach to determining the electrodynamic parameters---namely, the effective complex permittivity and effective thickness---of the precipitation layer on a hydrophobic-coated radome. This approach is grounded in the explicit consideration of the interrelationship between the local meteorological conditions at the radome installation site, the hydrophobic properties of the radome coating, and the resulting electrodynamic layer parameters. Unlike existing methods, this technique enables estimation not only for static precipitation morphologies (e.g., water films, snow crusts) but also for dynamic forms (e.g., droplets, rivulets, snowflakes). Results. The application of the developed estimation technique for MMWB excess attenuation in the precipitation layer on radomes, with due regard for layer formation processes, facilitates a systematic search for attenuation mitigation strategies. Experimental investigations conducted on a hemispherical radome with a diameter of 5 meters over the 30--40 GHz frequency range demonstrate that tailoring the properties of the radome's top coating layer to the prevailing climatic conditions enables a reduction in excess rain attenuation from 11 dB down to 0.035--0.08 dB, and in the case of ice accretion with water overlay, from 3 dB down to 0.45 dB. Practical relevance. The developed technique provides a scientifically substantiated framework for estimating excess MMWB signal attenuation on radome surfaces caused by meteorological precipitation layers.
Key words
millimeter-wave space communication channels, precipitation on the radome surface, power transmission coefficient, reflection coefficient.
Reference for citation
Zvezdina M. Yu., Shaposhnikova A. M., Shokova Yu. A., Lazarenko S. V., Kostoglotov A. A. Estimation of Additional Power Loss of Millimeter-Wave Radio Signal in a Precipitation Layer on a Radome. Systems of Control, Communication and Security, 2026, no. 3, pp. 239-280. DOI: 10.24412/2410-9916-2026-3-239-280 (in Russian).
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