Mission Microwave Selected by U.S. Air Force For High-Efficiency Ka-Band SSPA Development

Program Aims to Increase Power and Linear Efficiency of Ka-Band Solid State Power Amplifiers

Los Angeles, CA -- Mission Microwave Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of compact, highly efficient Solid State Power Amplifiers and Block Upconverters, announced today that they have been selected through the U.S. Air Force SBIR Program for a Phase I contract to develop highly efficient and linear high power Ka-Band Solid-State Amplifiers (SSPA’s). The SBIR program topic (AF151-150) is entitled “Ka-Band Efficient, Linear Power Amplifiers for SATCOM Ground Terminals,” and aims to deliver greater than 70W of linear RF power over 30-31 GHz, with efficiencies in excess of 35 percent.

“At Mission Microwave, we have created industry-leading Ku- and Ka-Band BUCs and SSPAs using innovative power combining technologies and system designs,” said Francis Auricchio, President and CEO of Mission Microwave. “We are pleased to extend our technology innovation toward the development of high-power, high efficiency Ka-Band SSPAs on this program. The program goals are aggressive, targeting 35% system efficiency with linear operation, but we believe this is achievable by combining multiple innovations in SSPA design, advanced GaN semiconductor technology, and end-to-end system architecture optimization. By pushing the envelope of what is currently thought to be possible, we can extend the usefulness of Solid State Power Amplifiers into power levels previously only achievable using TWT Amplifiers.”

Mission Microwave’s Ku- and Ka-Band BUC products provide high reliability even in the most demanding applications and extreme environments. In addition, their Ku-Band BUCs offer selectable standard and extended frequency bands with full band performance, and their Ka- Band BUCs offer three selectable bands for full 29-31 GHz coverage. The Stinger and Javelin products offer multiple interface options, including RS232, RS485, Ethernet, and wireless Bluetooth, complete with a simple-to-use app interface for iOS.

About Mission Microwave Technologies

Mission Microwave Technologies demonstrates revolutionary design for RF and microwave electronics, supporting ground-based, airborne, and space-based applications. Utilizing the latest in semiconductor technology, Mission Microwave's focus is to optimize the size, weight, and power (SWaP) for these critical applications, while providing its customers with the best possible reliability. Mission Microwave sets the "new standard" for performance and reliability.