Low-Cost, Transmit-Only, Active Electronically Steered Array (AESA) with Phase-Only Nulling (1000-471)

SI2 proposes to leverage prior Government funded efforts to develop a transmit (TX) only, wideband (6:1 bandwidth), low-cost, scalable active electronically scanned array (AESA) that will utilize phase-only nulling to enable radar, Electronic Warfare / Electronic Attack (EW/EA), Information Operations (IO) and other capabilities on multiple platforms across DOD agencies. The array will employ digital beamforming and standardized RF, power, and control interfaces to ease integration, and will use an innovative phase weighting scheme to provide rapid null steering. Importantly, all of the major subsytems – radiating aperture, TX and interface electronics, and digital beamforming, have been previously demonstrated, enabling SI2’s approach to mitigate risk and development cost. In Phase I, SI2 will develop the scalable array system, combining the proven array aperture, digital beamforming and interface electronics, phase-only null steering approach, and front end TX electronics. We will validate our approach via fabrication and test of sub-scale demonstrator aperture and RF electronics. In Phase II, SI2 will develop a representative prototype array system. We will calibrate and test the array prototype to demonstrate achievable performance, and to predict performance for multiple tiled units. The Phase II program will position the technology for transition to a program of record (POR).