Integrated Wideband Tactical Power Amplifier

Vadum proposes a feasibility study to define the next generation power amplifier for the Special Operations Forces (SOF) warfighter. This program will deliver extended bandwidth, more complex waveform capability, longer battery life, higher field reliability, and wide compatibility across radio types. The Phase I deliverable will be a comprehensive trade study and a proposed PA design which includes system architecture and verification simulations. Vadum will study and simulate several amplifier topologies to achieve efficiencies of greater than 70% over the entire 30-3000 MHz band. Vadum will evaluate several integration and packaging techniques, including optimal chip partitioning (frequency, power, etc.), and evaluate technologies to realize highly integrated multi-functional modules to improve overall performance and reliability and to reduce volume, mass, and cost. In order to achieve both high efficiency and linearity, Vadum will survey and evaluate candidate approaches, including re-configurable predistortion linearizers, to select the approach that meets all performance specifications with the highest reliability and lowest SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power).