FERM ACTA-MEO (Front End Radiating Module)

Status

Completed
Status date

2021-07-07
Activity Code

5B.167

Objectives

Phased array antenna have demonstrated to be an effective solution for the future high data rate MEO telecom applications.
Active antennas tend to be complex and expensive, thus the priority of this study has been in the development of a high integration density and developing an architecture of an innovative Transmit Front End Radiating Module that reduces the complexity of the phased array antenna.
The improvement of this solution is to introduce at least 50% saving in term of consumption, dissipation, mass and volume with the reducing drastically the antenna output losses and HPA MMIC PAE optimization using UMS GH15 GaN on SiC technology.

Challenges

A high integration density and developing an architecture of an innovative Transmit Front End Radiating Module that reduces the complexity of the phased array antenna for MEO telecom applications.
An innovative Ka band HPA MMIC design using UMS advanced technology GH15 GaN on SiC and an innovative radiating output section design have permit to obtain a high HPA MMIC PAE (> 35%) and low output losses (<0,6dB).

Benefits

The innovative Transmit Front End Radiating Module developed in this study permits to reduce the complexity of the phased array antenna applications.
This solution introduces at least 50% saving in term of consumption, dissipation, mass and volume with the reducing drastically the antenna output losses and HPA MMIC PAE using UMS advanced technology GH15 GaN on SiC.

Features

The main Octo-FERM features are :
•   high integration density in a low lattice 18mm,
•   large bandwidth (3GHz),
•   efficient antenna thermal control using innovative Thermal Interface Materials,
•   high power amplification (> 2W) with higher PAE (> 35%) at 14dB NPR and hot temperature (100°C MMIC baseplate),
•   low loss Radiating Output Section (< 0,6dB) including an innovative antipodal vivaldi waveguide transition, waveguide corrugated filter, compact waveguide septum polarizer and high efficiency horn (aperture efficiency > 85% on the bandwidth).

System Architecture

The transmit active antenna architecture is composed :
•   A Tx radiating panel composed with several transmit Ka Band FERM,
•   Several up-converter C to Ka band modules,
•   A DTP coupled to the OBP processor which contains the most intelligent software’s driving automatic and repetitive functions

Plan

ACTA MEO Kick off meeting was handled in April 2018 (T0)
The first review with attached milestone n°1 is the Requirement Review in T0+3.
The second review with attached milestone n°2 is the Architecture Review in T0+10.
The third review with attached milestone n°3 is the Mid Term Review in T0+15.
The forth review with attached milestone n°4 is the Critical Design Review in T0+21.
The last review with attached milestone n°5 is the Final Presentation with all the test reports in T0+38.

Current status

The Requirements Review has been handled in June 2018, the Architecture Review has been handled in November 2018 and the MTR in June 2019. Analysis and trade off allowed to define an architecture concept and orientations of the final product. The CDR review has been handled in December 2019 followed by a 4 progress meeting during 2021 to present the 4 test reports. The FR is scheduled in March 2022.