Wideband Transmitter for Electronic Attack Aircraft

Trex Enterprises is pleased to submit this proposal to demonstrate the feasibility of an ultra-wideband, high-power transmitter for airborne tactical counter-measure systems. Current counter-measure systems consist of many transmitters, with each responsible for only a narrow section of the total required bandwidth. Therefore, the development of an ultra-wideband high-power amplifier is needed to simplify the design of the transmitter, to reduce the system cost and the maintenance cycle, and to enhance system reliability. The power amplifier is the heart of a transmitter and is traditionally the reason for the narrow band response because power and bandwidth are two contradicting requirements. Trex proposes a novel amplifier topology that will enable the design of a 1kW solid-state power amplifier which operates from 500MHz to 4000MHz. This power amplifier is used to construct a single transmitter deployable inside a tactical counter-measure system operating within the said frequency range. The proposed power amplifier will be an integrated solution that addresses the challenges defined concurrently by all electrical and thermal requirements. Besides the application in tactical counter-measure system, this power amplifier topology can be deployed in multi-channel and spread-spectrum communication links, in wideband radar systems, in medical sensor systems and in counter counter-measure systems. BENEFITS: In addition to solving the specific issue of providing a single wideband and high power transmitter, this technology can enjoy widespread use for any application that is in need of a reliable transmitter covering a wide range of frequencies and power levels. In particular, it is anticipated that this technology can be scaled upwards in frequency towards the higher microwave and low millimeter-wave region, where new potential applications arise. • Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) (DoD); • UWB imaging radar (DoD, commercial); • NASA wideband communication links (commercial); • LMDS and MMDS (commercial).