Low-Cost, High-Power Microwave Switches

The Navy is seeking the design, optimization, and fabrication of low-cost, low-loss, high-power microwave switch prototypes having fast-switching speeds over large instantaneous bandwidths for radio frequency (RF) surveillance and Electronic Warfare (EW) applications. Threshold metrics for the switch are operation over 2-12 GHz, power handling >250W@3GHz and >50W@10GHz, <$50/device, <1dB insertion loss, switching speed <500 uS, reliability >3e9 cycles, Input Third Order Intercept Point (IIP3) >10dB above power handling, and duty cycle >20%. The Bedford Signals Corporation (BSC) approach leverages Menlo Microsystems, Inc (Menlo Micro) MEMS RF switches with techniques to improve CW power handling/duty cycle, reduce insertion loss, and increase functionality. The COTS (available at RFMW and Mouser) MM5130 is a SP4T RF switch supporting DC to 26 GHz, 250W pulsed at 10 GHz, 0.5 dB insertion loss, 10 uS switching speed, >3e9 cycles, and IIP3 >95 dBm (316KW). BSC enhancements are expected to at least double switch CW power handling.