NORTH STAR SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: N06-125

Description

The Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) terminal deployment is experiencing significant growth as a critical capability for US services and the international Link-16 MIDS users.   The MIDS JTRS design dates back to 2006, with some of the subassembly designs such as the RFA (Radio Frequency Amplifier) that dates back to even further. The RFA is now experiencing obsolescence and thermal issues as well as field failures that requires the consideration for a redesign and/or technology refresh to meet fleet readiness requirements.  Progress on power transistor technology such current Gallium Arsenide (GaN) technology could be a potential solution to address obsolescence  issues but also improve the overall Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) characteristics of MIDS RFA. This could enable an opportunity to leverage improved SWaP to assess the feasibility of adding an additional PA capability to support future waveforms improvements. The objective of this proposal is to investigate Viasat’s modernized Small Tactical Terminal (STT) RFE (Radio Frequency Electronics) design which is very similar in function to the legacy MIDS JTRS RFA.  The modernized RFE is a technical refresh that addresses obsolescence and employs modern technology that improves SWAP characteristics.  By using the RFE design as a basis, a reduced engineering effort is proposed to alter the layout of the RFE to take advantage of the larger lateral dimensions of the RFA enclosure while freeing up the necessary depth to accommodate additional waveform PA capability.