Jean-Pierre Joosting
W. L. Gore & Associates has introduced a lighter-weight RG coaxial cable for aircraft communication and navigation systems, providing significant weight savings without compromising performance. When compared to standard RG coaxial cables, these new cables reduce operating costs because they are as much as 20 percent lighter with a 15 percent smaller diameter.
This smaller and lighter profile coaxial cable still meets the stringent electrical and mechanical requirements of MIL-T-81790 and EN 3475-503. The cables engineered for electrical impedance of 50-Ohm and 75-Ohm also exceed the electrical requirements of MIL-C-17G. The special cable design of these RG coaxial cables facilitates easier routing and improved abrasion resistance for the cables.
According to Remo Soave, W. L. Gore & Associates product engineer for aerospace applications, the unique jacketing material used in the cable’s construction significantly reduces size while maintaining shielding effectiveness, controlling impedance, and withstanding operating temperatures ranging from -65°C to 150°C. “Although weight is a crucial factor for the aerospace industry, the performance of cables cannot be compromised to reduce mass,” Soave explains.
These lightweight RG coaxial cables are ideally suited for both newly designed systems and retrofit applications because their standard range of RF connectors can be terminated using standard tooling and processes.”
