Gallium Nitride Based Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Technology for High Altitude Periscope Detection

This project develops Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) Technologies that enable Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar which meet the low cost, high performance, efficient, small size, low weight and power (SWaP) requirements necessary for insertion into high-altitude submarine-periscope-detection systems. MMIC technology combines and integrates AESA functions into smaller footprints when compared to using separate package parts for each function. The Gallium Nitride (GaN) MMIC chip integrated with transmit and receive (T/R) functions will populate the array face. With improved GaN PA efficiency and fewer part counts, combined with new heat pipe technologies, a new AESA Radar Collision Avoidance System (RACAS) will be built to perform high altitude submarine periscope detection. The RACAS sparse array of current technology will be replaced with a much more complex, fully populated, C-Band array for simultaneous Sense and Avoid (SAA) and periscope detection operations.