Technology assessment: Optical communications, signal processors, and radiation effects

Military satellite communication system architects are often constrained by the performance capability of technology limited devices. Consequently, it is important to continually assess that technology essential to the support of future MILSATCOM systems. This project report and those published previously summarize study efforts that developed strawman MILSATCOM systems which satisfy projected user requirements. The technology requisite to deployment of these SATCOM systems was carefully evaluated, and required improvements were described and/or defined. Previously, the study was limited to rf devices or related phenomena. This report considers optical communications systems, on-board signal demodulators, and radiation effects. An update on the traveling-wave tube technology is presented because of its extreme importance to the development of affordable MILSATCOM terminals.