MICROWAVE MONOLITHIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY FOR AIR TARGET FUZING

HITTITE MICROWAVE CORPORATION HAS DEMONSTRATED A GAAS GHIP WHICH PREFORMS COMPLETE RF FUNCTIONS OF AN FM-CW RADAR DESIGNED FOR PROXIMITY FUZE APPLICATIONS IN ARTILLERY-FIRED MUNITIONS. THE RF ASSEMBLY FOR THIS FUZE INTEGRATED WITH A SINGLE-PATCH ANTENNA IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A FIVE CENT COIN. THIS PROPOSAL OUTLINES AN APPROACH TO EXTEND THE MMIC TECHNOLOGY TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF RF SENSORS FOR AIR-TARGET FUZING. FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RF HEAD WILL BE DEERMINED, AND MMIC DESIGN MODIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE IDENTIFIED. MMIC DESIGN APPROACHES TO MEET THE RF CIRCUIT REQUIREMENTS IN TYPICAL AIR-TO-AIR MISSILE FUZES ARE PRESENTED. THE SMALL SIZE OF THE RF ASSEMBLY ALONG WITH ITS LOW PRODUCTION COST, PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF FLEXIBILITY IN THE CONFIGURATION OF THE MISSILE RF PACKAGE. ONE EXAMPLE OF SUCH FLEXIBILITY IS THE OPTION OF USING MORE THAN ONE RF SENSOR (OPERATING IN MORE THAN ONE FREQUENCY, IF NECESSARY) FOR AIMABLE/DIRECTIONAL WARHEADS.