A Study on the Application of High-Power GaN SSPA for Miniature Radar

Lee, Sang_yeop; Yi, Jaewoong

doi:2016.19.5.574

J. KIMS Technol > Volume 19(5); 2016 > Article

Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology 2016;19(5):574-581.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.9766/KIMST.2016.19.5.574

A Study on the Application of High-Power GaN SSPA for Miniature Radar

Sang_yeop Lee, Jaewoong Yi

The 3rd Research and Development Institute, Agency for Defense Development

GaN 고출력 증폭기의 초소형 레이다 적용에 관한 연구

이상엽, 이재웅

국방과학연구소 제3기술연구본부

Abstract

Trend on high-power GaN(Gallium Nitride) SSPA(Solid-State Power Amplifier) and its availability in miniature radar systems are presented. There are numerous studies on high-power GaN devices since they have some characteristics of high-breakdown voltage, high power density, and high-temperature stability. Recent scaled GaN technology makes it possible to apply it in SSPAs for W- and G-band applications, with increasing its maximum frequency. In addition, it leads to downsizing and power-efficiency improvement of SSPAs, which means that GaN SSPAs can be available in miniature radar systems. This study also shows radar performance and comparison in the case of using such SSPAs at three frequency bands of Ku, Ka, and W. Finally, we demonstrate prospects of scaled GaN SSPAs in future miniature radar systems.

Key Words: GaN, SSPA, Miniature Radar