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July 27th, 2016

Air Force Flying High BUCs With Mission Microwave Technology's Ka-Band SSPAs A Follow On Phase II Contract


The Air Force has signed on Mission Microwave Technology  to develop efficient and linear high-power Ka-Band Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs) under a Phase II contract. The award is under SBIR program topic (AF151-150) for “Ka-Band Efficient, Linear Power Amplifiers for SATCOM Ground Terminals,” and aims to deliver greater than 70W of linear RF power over 30-31 GHz, with efficiencies in excess of 35 percent.

Francis Auricchio, President and CEO of Mission Microwave stated, “At Mission Microwave Technologies, we have created industry-leading BUCs and SSPAs using novel power combining technologies and system designs. In Phase I of this SBIR program we demonstrated the potential to meet aggressive program goals, targeting >35 percent SSPA system efficiency at linear operation, by combining multiple innovations in SSPA design, utilizing advanced GaN semiconductor technology, and end-to-end system architecture optimization. In this Phase II program, Mission Microwave will manufacture and deliver the SSPA concept module designed in Phase I, providing over 70W linear power at Ka-Band in a compact 5” x 5” x 5’’ form factor and weighing less than 6 lbs.  This record-breaking SSPA will extend the competitiveness of Solid State Power Amplifiers into power levels previously only achievable using TWT Amplifiers and will be ideal for use in comms-on-the-move and comms-on-the-pause applications.”

 http://www.missionmicrowave.com