X-band, Multi-beam Electronically Scanned Antenna (ESA) for Satellite Tracking, Telemetry, and Command (TT&C) (9734)

Hittite proposes to develop an ESA to greatly improve TT&C performance compared to current reflector antennas. The ESA will provide multiple (at least one TX and four RX) independent, simultaneous full-duplex beams over ± 180° azimuth and ± 90° elevation. In addition, the ESA will provide gain on demand, fast beam scanning/switching, quick response to surge loads, and low life-cycle cost. This X-band ESA will support substantially higher data rates than current S-band antennas. The ESA will be configured as a Geodesic Dome Phased Array Antenna (GDPAA). The essentially spherical GDPAA will provide multiple, narrow (130 dBm EIRP, > 21 dB/K G/T) beams at every scan angle within its 360° AZ/180° EL range. The GDPAA will be constructed with flat, triangular Panels of (nominally) 66 to 496 elements. Each Panel will comprise a triangular array of Digital Sub-Arrays (DSAs) each containing nominally 15 or 21 elements. Each DSA will comprise complete RF TX/RX circuitry plus ADC, DAC, and true-time-delay circuitry to support all digital beam forming (DBF) functions for a complete Panel. All active circuitry will be realized in IBM’s 8HP SiGe BiCMOS process via DoD’s ITAR-compliant, Trusted Foundry contract. The yielded BiCMOS circuitry is estimated to cost less than $40/element in production enabling a very low-cost, high-performance ESA for TT&C. The Phase I effort will first focus on ESA architectural trades, then on conceptual designs of the most critical elements. Critical technology will be developed and demonstrated in Phase II leading to complete antenna system development in Phase III.