W-band Microwave Amplifier Power Module

The Air Force would like to exploit the V (50-75 GHz) and W (75-110 GHz for SATCOM applications. For this SBIR, we propose to implement microwave power modules (MPMs) that combine lower power Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) driver amplifiers and equalizers with miniature traveling wave tube (TWT) amplifiers to provide high power density at lower cost. These MPMs will include the MMIC drivers, integrated power conditioners, TWT power boosters and linearizers. The V/W band MMIC, used as a driver amplifier in the MPM, handles relatively low power is small, lightweight, and available while the V/W band TWTs will have wide bandwidth and high power output performance accompanied by relatively small physical dimensions and mass. The overall gain of the combined MMIC/TWT is high and will also be coupled with a reduction in the size and weight of the power supply using integrated circuits to achieve the high voltages needed for the TWT. Solid state vacuum device (SSVDTM) technology which combines the precise, lower cost manufacturing advantages of solid state and the high frequency high power performance advantages of vacuum electronics will be employed for the design and implementation of the miniature TWT power boosters in this SBIR program.