Pitch Day in Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, and Network (C3I&N)

Emerging extremely-high-frequency (i.e., mm-wave) radar and telecommunication systems offer unprecedented performance in the modern warfare environment, which necessitates a continual focus on rapid modernization efforts to maintain a leading technological edge. Mm-wave electronics have thus far demonstrated previously unattainable performance and consequently, there exists a relentless pursuit on behalf of the AF/DoD to incorporate these modernized mm-wave systems into existing platforms, including but not limited to AEHF, WGS, SATCOM, and missile guidance. However, technical barriers exist that limit their performance. Specifically, the manufacturing of micron-scale resolution, large 3D antenna arrays, having a high-performance bar due to its inherently larger design space, is challenging and demand innovate solutions to engineer. Accordingly, DUJUD has validated, via the Phase I, that mm-wave SATCOM systems could notably be modernized and enhanced using DUJUD’s proposed 3D antenna technology relative to conventional 2D hardware architectures. In the Phase II effort, DUJUD will deliver a 3D phased-array antenna prototype that meets all AF end-user specifications and requirements that exceed that of current state-of-the-art 2D antenna arrays. In this pursuit, DUJUD will focus their efforts on engineering design, optimization, electromagnetic simulation, advanced additive manufacturing using DUJUD’s proprietary technology, integration/assembly, and experimental testing of the 3D phased-array antenna.