VADUM INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: A11-083

Description

The Vadum electronically steered phased array system generates high RF (radio frequency) power at C-band without TWTAs (traveling wave tube amplifiers) and delivers that power to the target without requiring a lossy output combiner. This approach addresses existing TWTA challenges while simultaneously delivering new capabilities and increased standoff. Vadum focused attention on radial power combiners as the traditional low-loss approach to microwave power combining at higher frequencies. Verification that the application supports combining at the target led Vadum to investigate an even lower-loss combining technique: free space power combining via a phased array. This approach to directed energy power delivery eliminates the output combiner entirely and allows combining to take place at the target area from an array of transmit modules feeding a corresponding array of antenna elements. A phased array achieves modularity, flexibility, beamsteering, beamforming, size and weight reduction, graceful degradation, and enhanced reliability, in addition to substantial elimination of passive output combining loss. The system contains radiating antenna elements, output amplifier stages, and driver and array control electronics. The array is modular, consisting of sub-array “tiles” that will be dimensioned to create arrays appropriately sized for specific vehicles. The Vadum phased array can also dynamically steer one or more simultaneous beams, sweeping through a space with variable dwell time.