W-Band Power Amplifier Based on Wide Bandgap Technology

Battlefield requirements for radar which can see through clouds, fog and smoke can be effectively met by using W-band systems. These systems require high power amplifiers to create the high level RF signal which is transmitted at the target. Current solutions rely on gallium arsenide (GaAs) or indium phosphide (InP) for the high power amplifier (HPA). This is due to the high transition frequency (Ft) of these materials. However, the power density of these materials require the use large device sizes to achieve a desired output power. This results in less efficient HPAs. As a result, these devices do not meet future requirements. Millimeter-wave active antenna arrays and radar transmitters offer superior performance when compared to lower frequency radars such as X-Band The goal of this program is to prove the feasibility of a 94GHz GaN based high power amplifier. Program Technical Goals: • Achieve 4-5 Watts/mm device level power density. • Demonstrate 25% device power added efficiency. • HPA with 5 Watts output power. • HPA with 25dB gain. • HPA with at least 15% PAE. MMICMAN will leverage existing production of S, X and Ka-Band GaN-based MMIC HPAs to achieve this goal.