A 2 kW, L-band radar module using 550 W 'quad' building blocks

It is pointed out that solid-state transmitters for very high power radar systems, such as the SPS-40, have demonstrated advantages over tube equipment. The first solid-state radar systems represented a significant advance with respect to the state of the art. However, there remain opportunities for improvement in many areas. One possibility involves an integrated technology approach to modular amplifier design. Such an approach includes optimization of the transistor die design, device packaging, and the special matching components for the specific amplifier program. The 2 kW amplifier architecture considered in the present paper is a modular structure with commonality which centers around a 550 watt building block 'quad' module. A basic push-pull module drives a single quad module, which then drives an array of four quad modules. Attention is given to transistor die selection and thermal considerations.