Wideband,Lightweight, Beamformer

FIRST RF will validate the application of various active TTD technologies into the proposed manufacturing approach with a paper design of a 0.5-18 GHz wideband lightweight beamforming network. The size and weight objectives of the BFN will be shown to be 1 pound and 1 inch in depth. The RF design of the BFN will demonstrate 7.5-60 degree scan capability over this frequency range with the objective of continuous frequency coverage over the entire band of operation. The TTD module specification will be defined for both RF and physical characteristics. Previous designs from other FIRST RF programs will be used as a baseline for integration of the BFN design. Finally, FIRST RF will demonstrate the approach for building plug-in 16 element arrays with the manufacture and test of a passive 16 element array for physical and mass model verification of a wideband beamforming network phased array design. To validate the overall concept, patterns and bandwidth for this array will be tested with fixed delay lines prior to Phase II TTD module design and fabrication.