Broadband RCS reduction in microstrip patch antenna using L‐shape stepped polarization rotation reflective surface

A novel L‐shape stepped polarization rotation reflective surface (PRRS) for achieving broadband radar cross section (RCS) reduction of a microstrip patch antenna is proposed. The proposed PRRS consists of two scaled pairs of L‐shape stepped patches and is printed on FR4 substrate backed by a metallic ground plane. The arrangement of PRRS in four orthogonal directions around the microstrip patch antenna reduces RCS in a broad frequency range of 7.07 GHz‐11.06 GHz. To understand the RCS reduction throughout the entire frequency band, angled slot is introduced in the microstrip patch antenna to provide frequency shift. The microstrip patch antenna with RCS reduction is fabricated and tested. The experimental results reveal that the proposed PRRS intensely reduces the microstrip patch antenna RCS by a maximum of 35 dB with improved radiation characteristics like gain, directivity and radiation efficiency.