W-band Receive Phased Array for SATCOM Uplinks

To meet the demands of the AF192-017 “W-band Receive Phased Array for SATCOM Uplinks”, the MaXentric / FIU team proposes the WARP (W-band Array Receiver from multiple Points), which provides a W-band phased array receiver with wafer-scale antenna and front-end components. The receiver covers multi-channel and multi-beam forming functionality. During Phase I, the team will show the capability of ultra-high directivity small phased array through trade-study, simulation and scaled demonstration. A W-band custom front-end IC design and digital signal processing architecture will be investigated. The targeted carrier frequency range, half-power beam width (HPBW), scanning angle are 81-86 GHz, 0.1 degrees and ±9 degrees, respectively. The developed system will be to be utilized for geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite communication (SATCOM) applications, where components used in the system should accept the total dose of 1 Mrad. Toward Phase II proposal, the team will make a plan for developing and demonstrating prototypes of sharp multiple beam phased array for novel large capacity communication link.