S-Band Transmit/Receive Module Advancements for Efficient Radars (STRAFE) Navy SBIR FY2018.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2018.1 Topic No.: N181-006 Topic Title: S-Band Transmit/Receive Module Advancements for Efficient Radars (STRAFE) Proposal No.: N181-006-0099 Firm: NuWaves Ltd. 132 Edison Drive Middletown, Ohio 45044 Contact: Dustin Brown Phone: (513) 360-0800 Web Site: http://www.nuwaves.com Abstract: The Navy�?Ts E-2D advanced Hawkeye reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft plans to enhance existing radar capabilities by including an S-Band electronically-scanned array (ESA) aboard the platform. To support the range and signal fidelity needed to perform the surveillance, the equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) requires significant improvement over existing solutions, especially in power density. NuWaves proposes the S-Band Transmit/Receive Module Advancements for Efficient radars (STRAFE) project. Utilizing current gallium nitride (GaN) technology capable of generating hundreds of watts in a single RF transistor, NuWaves will leverage this power capability within a custom designed monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) housed within a highly capable T/R module. NuWaves proposes to evaluate several novel thermal management techniques in order to provide the required power density at the lowest recurring cost to the T/R module. Benefits: NuWaves expects to present the T/R module findings to OEMs of radar systems for future development efforts. While the T/R module is designed for the 2.95 to 3.65 GHz band, many other adjacent frequencies are allocated for radar use. While the module will be most effective in the E-2D�?Ts band of interest, the module should operate in these adjacent S-Band frequencies. Demonstration of these capabilities, as well as further refinement of the performance at these adjacent bands should be of interest to system integrators. Additionally, many additional platforms could benefit from the SBIR development, because of the high power density of the T/R module. Outside the DoD, the ISM band approaches the low end of operation for the system. Circuit elements, but more importantly the thermal dissipation techniques of how to generate such high power can benefit ISM developments. Microwave ovens, operating at the 2.45 GHz band are beginning to be marketed, and the advancements of the T/R module may benefit these designs. Further, a mutual benefit is that as these commercial products increase in capability, the size of the market will grow helping to reduce the cost to develop and generate future technology. Return