Synchronous Parallel-Plate Non-Linear Transmission Line (SPP-NLTL)

The Navy needs a high power microwave (HPM) directed energy weapon (DEW) capable of stopping vehicle/vessel engines from 100 to 1000 meters. Current broadband RF-HPM weapon systems are very large, heavy, and costly. These incumbent systems lack the power and bandwidth necessary for identification and realization of vehicle/vessel stopping waveforms. PSI will develop an extremely compact broadband HPM source that delivers MW-level power with broad frequency and pulse width tuning. PSI will outline a path to combine this source with a directional antenna system to deliver field strengths of 1 to 100 kV/m, at ranges of 100 to 1000 meters. The key innovations include a compact packaging scheme as well as novel materials to improve both efficiency and thermal stability at elevated rep rates. In the Phase I SBIR program, PSI will simulate and fabricate a prototype of the novel source and validate performance on an experimental breadboard. In the Phase II period, PSI will match the source to a broadband antenna and perform far-field testing against vehicle/vessel engine targets. Once the Phase II prototypes are evaluated by the Navy, PSI will pursue scale-up development to produce the system at high rate.