High Power Solid State Ku-band Transmitter

A high power portable Ku-band trasnmitter using a DRO/FET/Doubler approach is proposed to replace a Magnetron for beacon transponder applications. The proposed technique can satisfy the system specifications in frequency stability, operating temperature, RF power, pulse modulation, pulse width and rise/fall time, pulse reptition rate, power consumption, and spur and harmonics levels. The Proposed Phase I effort will provide a proof-of-concept system with an efficient frequency doubler to provide the required RF power at 17 GHz. The Phase I program will also include investigations regarding the use of high power FETs and MIMIC amplifiers directly at 17 GHz. A design using state-of-the-art higher power FETs satisfying the specifications in size, weight, and cost will be completed in Phase I and fabricated in Phase II. The proposed approach provides advantages in excellent temperature stability for output power and frequency, reliability, multiple device suppliers, simple power upgrading modular repairability, and the potential for CW operations.