Modular Approach Cuts Costs of AESA Radar Designs

The advent of modular, stackable subsystems is enabling cost effective ways to build configurable Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems. These simplify system integration and permits rapid first line repair.

MARK HOWARD, CHIEF ENGINEER API TECHNOLOGIES

Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, or e-scan, is a well-established technology that has evolved in recent decades, becoming increasingly reliable and price competitive due to ongoing refinements in GaAs MMICs, higher integration of functions (IoF) per chip, increased process yields with reduced failure rates, pre-screening of key components such as power amplifiers (PAs), and other low cost manufacturing techniques.