Mission Microwave RF solid state amplifiers and frequency converters are becoming widely deployed in SATCOM communications ground terminals for MILSATCOM application. These amplifiers use Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors and unique design and linearization techniques to provide drastic increase in performance in roughly 25% of the weight of traditional RF amplifiers.
These same amplifier construction and weight/power reduction techniques can be applied to EW applications which also require a high degree of linearity, performance and reliability. Examples of compelling weight reduction for mobile, airborne and ground portable applications will be covered highlighting the potential for application of these same technologies to the EW domain.
The primary frequency ranges covered by these COTS products are X, Ku and Ka-Bands with power densities exemplified by a 10 lbs, 100 Watt Ka Band amplifier and up converter which takes the place of amplifiers that weigh well over 60 lbs. Examples in X-band for ground or airborne scenarios will also be covered. The goal of the presentation is to create awareness of this new capability and begin to understand EW requirements where these low Swap amplifiers may provide a benefit.