Aerospace Systems
RF Interfaces for Aerospace Sensors
Sensors mounted outside the pressure vessel take the worst of the aircraft environment: rain erosion at speed, icing, the full temperature swing from a tropical ramp to cruise altitude, and a pressure cycle on every flight. Their interconnect has to be sealed and stay sealed.
Sealed
Air Data
Ice Detection
-55 °C
Structural Health
-55° to +125°
Temperature
70,000 ft
Altitude
IP67
Sealed Interface
Design Notes
What an External Sensor Interface Faces
Five environments that decide whether a sensor feed survives the airframe life.
01
Pressure Cycling
Every flight is a pressure cycle. Air moves in and out of any volume that is not properly sealed, and it carries moisture with it, which then freezes at altitude.
02
Rain and Particle Erosion
At approach speeds, rain is abrasive. Anything protruding into the airstream loses surface material over time, and the interface has to still seal when it does.
03
Icing and De-Icing
Sensors that are heated cycle through large local temperature gradients. Differential expansion at the interface is what eventually opens a joint.
04
Signal Integrity at Length
Sensor runs can be long. Loss and shield performance over that distance decide how much of the signal actually reaches the acquisition unit.
05
Lightning and Bonding
External installations are part of the lightning protection scheme. Bonding through the connector and backshell is a structural requirement, not just an EMI one.
Reference Data
Typical Sensor Interface Requirements
Programme and zone classification govern. These are representative.
| Parameter | Typical Requirement | Relevant Series | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sealing | IP67 mated | Sealed series | Through the pressure cycle |
| Temperature | -55 °C to +125 °C | Aerospace series | Ramp to cruise swing |
| Altitude | To 70,000 ft | Derated series | Corona and arc-over margin |
| Bonding | 360° shield continuity | EMI backshells | Lightning protection scheme |
| Vibration | Per DO-160 Section 8 | Qualified series | Zone dependent |
| Fluid resistance | Per DO-160 Section 11 | Sealed series | De-icing fluid, hydraulics |
Our Role
What We Supply for Sensor Installations
01
Sealed External Interfaces
Connectors sealed at the interface rather than at the enclosure, so the pressure cycle cannot pull moisture into the joint.
02
Runs Built to Length
Sensor feeds made to the actual routing with the right jacket for the zone, terminated and measured before they reach the aircraft.
03
Traceable Materials
Material and plating certificates with lot traceability, which zone classification and certification both require.
Selected Products
Interfaces for Sensor Feeds
Typical starting points for external sensor interconnect. Send us the zone and the run and we will propose the configuration.
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0.031″ Semi-Rigid Low-Loss RF Coaxial Cable, 18 GHz Rated
$20.00 Add to cartQuick View -
N Female 4-Hole Flange Mount RF Connector – Field Replaceable, 18.35mm Hole Spacing, 0.38mm Pin Diameter
$23.00 Add to cartQuick View -
N Male to N Male System Interconnect Low-Loss RF Cable Assembly – Use CFS830H Coax
$20.00 Add to cartQuick View -
SMA Female 4-Hole Flange Mount RF Connector – Field Replaceable, 8.64mm Hole Spacing, 0.23mm Pin Diameter
$22.00 Add to cartQuick View
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Market Overview
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The full picture: RF interconnect across the airframe, from cockpit to cabin to sensor.
Sensor Engineering Support
Routing a Sensor Feed?
Send us the zone classification, the run length and the environment, and our engineers will propose the interconnect.