Advanced systems need supercomponents

It is pointed out that emerging systems require more sophisticated microwave functions to satisfy new systems requirements. One approach for satisfying these new requirements is related to the utilization of the 'supercomponent'. The supercomponent is a compact, multifunction device which has evolved to simultaneously satisfy the diverse requirements of more performance in a smaller volume. Microwave supercomponents are extensively employed in radar, radiometry, communications, and the various forms of electronic countermeasures (ECM). Such a supercomponent might provide some or all of the functions related to amplification, modulation (phase and amplitude), limiting, frequency and noise generation, filtering, frequency conversion, switching, and coupling.