Low loss, Low SWaP-C Phase Shifting Module

Phase shifters are the heart of modern phased array antennas. This proposal seeks to develop a revolutionary low-loss, extremely low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) phase shifter module for ubiquitous use in C4ISR systems integrated on Air Force UAS platforms. Leveraging uniquely low-loss phase shifting allows a simplified architecture, eliminating the need for complex T/R modules, amplifiers, and their associated power, cost, and thermal burden. The combination of low loss, small size, and light weight are unprecedented, resolving the primary deficiencies of ‘state of the art’ Electronically Scanned Arrays (ESA). By achieving extremely low insertion loss, the proposed phase shifter greatly simplifies phased array design, enabling 85% power, weight, and complexity savings over current systems, with unprecedented (10-100x) cost reductions. These advances will impact the technical profile of communications and sensing systems enabling dramatic increases in range, coverage, reliability, persistence, and mission endurance of Air Force (and other) UAS platforms.