Northrop Grumman Demos Advanced EHF Success With Phased Array Uplink

SPACEWAR

One of the new technologies developed for the Advanced EHF payload, the antenna directs radio frequency beams electronically rather than by moving reflectors mechanically. This allows one array to do the job of many reflectors, giving the flexibility to point-on-demand in fractions of a second, greatly improving warfighter access.

Redondo Beach CA (SPX) Sep 28, 2004
Northrop Grumman has demonstrated technology for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) payload that will greatly improve warfighters' access to military satellite communications while increasing the range of missions the system can support on the ground, at sea and in the air. The company will provide the Advanced EHF payload to Lockheed Martin, prime contractor for the Advanced EHF system.

Northrop Grumman's Space Technology sector has completed electrical testing of the uplink phased array antenna, which receives signals from ground terminals.

It is also the first phased array for space application that operates at 44Ghz. Another new technology is the use of an advanced semiconductor material, Indium Phosphide (InP), for some of the antenna's more than 10,000 monolithic microwave integrated circuits. InP ensures excellent low-noise, or clear signal, performance.

"With these successful electrical tests, we have shown that electronic beam steering can support a wider range of missions with fewer antennas," said Clayton Kau, Northrop Grumman Space Technology vice president and manager of the Advanced EHF payload program. "The tests also demonstrate that we are on track to deliver the first flight payload in April 2006."

With the more compact phased array, the Advanced EHF system can process greater amounts of information. It will deliver 10 times greater total capacity and channel data rates six times higher than that of Milstar II communications satellites. Advanced EHF is the successor to the Milstar system.

The highly directional antenna additionally reduces the possibility of jamming and intercept by enemies, assuring secure, reliable communications between command and control units wherever they operate.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., is currently under contract to provide the first two Advanced EHF satellites and command and control system. In April, Lockheed Martin successfully completed the system critical design review phase of the program on schedule and is now into the production phase.

The MILSATCOM Joint Program Office, located at the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contract manager and lead agency for the Advanced EHF program.

SPACEWAR

Navy Awards LockMart Team $2B Contract To Build Mobile User Objective System

Sunnyvale CA (SPX) Sep 24, 2004
The US Navy announced Friday that a team led by Lockheed Martin has won the competition to build the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), a next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system that will provide significantly improved and assured communications for the mobile warfighter.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.