Multi-Function Software Defined Phased Array Satellite Payload

K2 Space is developing a multipurpose, dual-use, wideband, software-defined phased array payload that leverages the capabilities of the K2 Space Mega Class satellite bus to perform various functions for the commercial and national defense markets.  Specifically, the K2 Space payload will be capable of providing commercial SATCOM communications, direct-to-device communications, high-powered jam-resistant military SATCOM communications, electronic intelligence (ELING) gathering on terrestrial and on-orbit emitters, electronic attack, and jam-resistant position, navigation & timing (PNT) functions. By coupling a software-defined backend with a wide-band phased array front end, the K2 Space payload can deliver high EIRP and high antenna gain, while fully digital beamforming allows the simultaneous distribution of that power across multiple digitally steerable beams across a broad spectrum of frequencies, across UHF, L-, and portions of S-band.   The ability to redefine the frequency, power, waveform, and target area through software allows the payload to be retasked on orbit to support a variety of commercial and national defense end users in response to changing market, threat, or conflict conditions.   The development of this payload is enabled by recent innovation in high-speed analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and digital-to-analog converters (DACs) on silicon application-specific integrated circuits (ASICS), which enable full elemental digital beamforming and direct RF conversion as well as innovation in the complementary wideband analog front-end technologies.   This proposal develops K2 Space’s payload through TRL-6 and culminates with a laboratory demonstration of a flight-ready subscale prototype in Q3 2025.