A ballistic protective radome (10) consisting of substantially
longitudinal layer members (14) firmly and densely packed in a uniform
array, forming a main protective layer (12). The layer members (14) are
mutually spaced apart and electrically isolated such that a continuous
gap (18) is formed in the main protective layer (12). The layer members
(14) are made of mechanical energy absorbing and high tensile strength
materials such as ceramics, metallic alloys nanoparticulate ceramics and
nanoparticulate metallic alloys. The surface of the layer members is
electrically conducting, optionally by plating with a layer of highly
electrically conducting materials having a width of a few skin depths.
Optionally a dielectric layer (16) is attached to at least one surface
border of the main protective layer for promoting the ballistic features
of the radome and providing for impedance matching. A method for tuning
the operational frequency of the radome is provided by grouping the layer
members in pairs (12A-12C) of layer members having collinear main axes.
Optionally discs (26D-26F) having electrically conducting surface are
inserted into the gaps between the paired layer members.