W- TO KA-BAND FREQUENCY CONVERTER (ARTES AT 5C.363)

Description

Objective: The objective is to design, build, and test an engineering model of a W to Ka-band frequency converter for future telecom payloads.

Targeted Improvements: Enabling technology for future telecom systems based on the use of W-band for the gateway links.

Description:A trend in ultra-high throughput systems is to employ high frequency bands (e.g., Q/V-band) for the gateway links in order to enhance the overall system throughput and, at the same time, minimise the required number of gateways by making use of the wide bandwidth available in such frequency bands.

After several years of assessments, RD and technology development activities, the adoption of Q/V-band for the gateway links is becoming a key requirement for future high throughput systems.

Since there is a strong push towards increasing system capacity whilst at the same time minimising the number (and related cost) of gateway earth stations, it is crucial to launch technology development activities addressing W-band.

Among others, key elements in the W-band communicationspayloads are frequency converters. High linearity, low distortion, low mass and low power consumption are the key parameters of these units. This activity aims to develop a W-to-Ka-band frequency converter using European or Canadian state-of-the-art MMIC technology.

An engineering model of a complete converter comprising amplifiers, mixers, filters, and frequency multipliers shall be built and tested.

Tender Specifics