Compact RF Systems For UAV Payloads

Proposed missile defense systems must guard against advanced ballistic and cruise missiles that fly with high velocities and are equipped with their own defense mechanisms. Likely, a successful missile defense system will employ both kinetic killtechnologies as well as High Power Microwave (HPM) and RF weapon systems. Typical HPM and RF weapon technologies are mired by their excessive volumes and masses. However, recent developments, including those developed under the direction of the MissileDefense Organization (MDA), have made compact pulsed power sources a strong candidate for inclusion in future missile defense systems. In fact, a recent Multi-University Research Initiative, sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research hasbeen funded to help develop technologies to support the development of compact pulsed power sources. Applied Physical Electronics, L.C. (APELC) has worked under the MDA SBIR program to develop a compact Marx generator. While this generator has beenextremely successful in delivering high voltage impulses, viable prime power sources and high voltage antennas do not meet current needs, ultimately limiting the effectiveness of the APELC impulse generator. As a result of the successful Phase I, thiseffort is proposed to develop an array of high voltage, impulse radiating antennas, including UWB and Narrow Band types, and a high charge rate, short lifetime power supplies to be deployed in extremely compact geometries that require extreme operationalparameters for brief periods of operation.