Abstract
The development of a compact radio frequency (RF) vacuum power amplifier for high-resolution airborne radar is described. The amplifier, a microwave power module (MPM), operates in the upper millimeter-wave frequency band of 231.5–235 GHz providing a peak output power of 32 W. Common with previous extremely high frequency MPM development at Electron Devices, the ${G}$ -band MPM consists of a periodic permanent magnet focused serpentine waveguide traveling wave tube (TWT) and a miniaturized 20-kV electronic power conditioner. Input drive to the MPM for saturation is around 10 mW. Low-loss chemical vapor deposition diamond WR-4.3 windows serve as the input and output ports of the TWT. Due to the high duty of the radar application, a four-stage TWT collector is employed for beam energy recovery. The MPM operates from a 270- $\text{V}_{\sf {dc}}$ power source. Two MPM configurations have been constructed: a single integrated unit for laboratory testing and a split-package configuration for integration in a standard electro-optical/infrared gimbal. The split-package flight test unit has a maximum prime power requirement of 176 W, corresponding to an overall amplifier efficiency of 9%. The radar sensor has been flown on a modified DC-3 test bed with high-resolution real-time video imagery obtained under cloud-obscured operating conditions.
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