Advanced Transmitter and Receiver (T/R) Module Technology For Space Radar

This Phase II proposal is presented as the follow on to the Phase I SBIR contract number FA9453-06-M-01492 entitled “Advanced Transmitter and Receiver (T/R) Module Technology for Space”. Today’s high-performance radars rely on electronically steered arrays made of thousands of radiating elements with a Transmit/Receiver (T/R) module connected to each element. Typically, a T/R module contains a low-noise amplifier for the receive portion, a transmitter power amplifier, and a phase shifter integrated into one (or more) MMIC chip. The output power of the transmitter amplifiers ranges from a few tenths of watts at millimeter wave frequencies to tens of watts at lower microwave frequencies (L/S band), and the power dissipation in amplifiers becomes a practical limit to the transmitter output power. In normal operation of space-based radars, however, the transmitter is not turned on at all times, and the power consumption is mostly in the receiver portion. For those reasons, one critical design goal for T/R modules is the power-added efficiency (PAE) of amplifiers, both the LNA in the receiver and the power amplifier in the transmitter. The Phase II program will lead to the development of a single MMIC chip low-power consuming T/R module. Parameters like the RF performance, DC consumption performance and hence temperature performance will be used to find the most cost effective method to produce highly integrated T/R modules and to develop testing methods for such integrated chips. The proposed program will lead to MMIC design concepts and T/R module designs for achieving the required performance and reliability for space qualified subsystems. Beyond the specific MMIC mentioned, this Phase II SBIR will make significant contributions in mHEMT device characterization and the commercialization of mHEMT technology.