Direct Digital Radio Frequency (RF) Conversion Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM)

Systems & Technology Research (STR) with our partner Mercury Defense Systems (MDS, formerly KOR Electronics) present this proposal for developing new Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) technology. The combination of STR"s proven low size weight and power (SWAP) high performance receiver and digitizer technology with MDS"s leadership in DRFM technology will provide both innovation and experience in pursuing the proposed technology development. DRFM systems are an important tool in EW applications. The ability to use them on SWAP limited platforms while increasing their performance metrics is an important goal for future EW capabilities. The goal of this proposed effort is to develop an advanced all digital Electronic Attack (EA) DRFM system minimizing Radio Frequency (RF) component technology that will result in reduced size/cost/complexity and increase capability and effectiveness through wider bandwidth. Specifically we will explore Direct Digital RF Conversion approaches that eliminate the RF signal translation modules of conventional architectures. This direct digitization of RF signals will cover input frequencies between 2 GHz and 18 GHz. This is expected to reduce size and power requirements by significant margins. The per unit price reduction would allow for multiple parallel DRFM architectures capable of simulating emerging threats to US radar systems.