Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The successful operation of a man-pack VHF jamming system requires a compact and efficient antenna operating over a wide bandwidth. The design of such an antenna is the focus of this thesis. The antenna should be of a practical size for a portable system and it must radiate energy efficiently across a frequency bandwidth in excess of a decade. A practical „target‟ specification of such an antenna has been drawn up based on the performance of a commercially available system. Several possible antenna topologies, each with a variety of loading section options, are tested using “Full wave” electromagnetic modelling (FEKO). Each topology/loading-section is numerically optimised for load element values by considering both its gain and reflection coefficient. Results of the „optimally loaded‟ solution for each topology are then compared to each other to arrive at the best overall design. The best result is found to be the traditional monopole whip-type antenna, with four R-L loading sections spread along its length. The simulated results show that the proposed antenna can be expected to meet the target standing wave ratio (SWR) specifications while offering a gain advantage of between 5 and 10 dBi higher than is available commercially. The selected design is constructed and its performance measured. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die suksesvolle werking van ʼn mobiele VHF "jammer‟ benodig ʼn kompakte antenna met ʼn bruikbare benuttingsgraad wat oor ʼn wyeband funksioneer. Die ontwerp van so ʼn antenna is die fokus van hierdie tesis. Die antenna moet kompak genoeg wees om draagbaar te wees en moet ʼn bruikbare benuttingsgraad hê oor ʼn frekwensie-bandwydte van meer as 10:1. ʼn Praktiese spesifikasie is opgestel vir die antenna deur te kyk na die sigblaaie van beskikbare stelsels. “Volgolf” elektromagnetiese modelleringsagteware is daarna gebruik om ʼn parametriese ondersoek te loods van verskillende antennas. Verskillende topologieë is getoets met ʼn verskeidenheid van belaaide seksies waar die topologieë ge-optimaliseer was vir wins en weerkaatskoëffisiënt. Die resultate vir elke optimale oplossing is vergelyk.Opgrond van hierdie resultate is bevind dat die beste topologie die tradisionele monopoolmas "whip-type‟ antenna is met vier RL lading afdelings langs die lengte versprei. Analise word gebruik om te wys dat verwag kan word dat dit aan die aanwins en staande golf verhouding (SGV) spesifikasies sal voldoen met n 10 dB verhoging in aanwins vir n laer SGV. Die geselekteerde ontwerp is gebou en gemeet om te verifieer dat dit aan die spesifikasies voldoen.