Air Acoustics Tactical Decision Aid

Not Available Many military and commercial radar, weapon guidance, and imaging systems require solid state transmitter power sources. IMPATT devices have been serving as the primary transmitter source for applications such as W-band high peak power, short pulse radar and guidance systems. Currently, there exists an acute need to develop U.S. production capabilities for low cost, short pulse, high power millimeter-wave IMPATT diodes to meet the weapon system requirements. Silicon IMPATT diodes are capable of generating short pulse (100 ns typical), high power (40 - 50 watts) output power at W-band (75 - 110 GHz). However, the traditional suppliers of IMPATT diodes such as Hughes Aircraft Company and Raytheon Company are no longer producing the devices. QuinStar Technology has recently acquired from Hughes/Raytheon the license and equipment to produce and sell millimeter-wave IMPATT diodes. The proposed program will develop IMPATT diodes capable of high power (40 to 50 watt peak output power), short pulse (100 nanosecond) at W-band frequencies. This will serve as a vehicle to develop not only the enabling technology but also the US capability to produce high performance, low cost IMPATT diodes, both required for insertion into the existing systems and for the development of the next generation systems.