A radome is an enclosed, weatherproof structure that houses a radar antenna. The phrase radome is derived from the terms radar and dome, and it was initially defined as a radar-transparent, dome-shaped structure fitted on an airplane. However, radome is now a generic name for any radar enclosure, whether airborne or ground-based. The aircraft radome is designed to reduce the electromagnetic signal broadcast or received by the antenna as little as possible while remaining practically transparent to radio waves. The increase in aircraft demand drives considerable growth in the worldwide aviation radome market.