SAN DIEGO, Oct. 3, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has successfully demonstrated the capabilities of an advanced high-power amplifier for the U.S. Army that is capable of enabling critical communications for the network-centric Future Force.
Army Future Force concepts include information superiority and improved situational understanding through the integration of data from joint forces. These capabilities require a highly secure wideband network to share large amounts of real-time information among forces on the ground, sea and air. A key enabler of this capability is an efficient power amplifier with enough power to transmit wideband data waveforms such as the Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) over distances warfighters require. WNW is currently under development by the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program.
Nine months after program start, Northrop Grumman demonstrated that its software-defined radio (SDR) power amplifier could provide enough output power to enable WNW communications at the required range and throughput. In addition, Northrop Grumman's high-efficiency design met the difficult size, weight and thermal requirements of the JTRS ground platform. All high-risk areas were addressed and high efficiency and output power over an extremely wide bandwidth were achieved.
Northrop Grumman's SDR power amplifier is being developed under the Army Communications-Electronics Research Development & Engineering Center (CERDEC). CERDEC's Radio Enabling Technologies and Nextgen Applications Army Technology Objective program develops and transitions technology insertion solutions to the JTRS program.
"The underlying wideband power amplifier technologies developed in this program are universal, and have applicability to many of the Future Force's communications needs," said Greg Jones, director of JTRS Programs, Northrop Grumman Space Technology. "This success, a collaborative effort with Northrop Grumman investment, is an example of a win-win for the Defense Department and industry."
Northrop Grumman's test program for the advanced power amplifier included an unusual stress test to explore the ability to transmit a large amount of data in a short time.
"We subjected the amplifier to a full-power, 100 percent duty cycle stress test for four minutes," said Jones. "The amplifier operated normally during the entire test, and key component temperatures remained within their limits even at the end of the test interval."
"We wanted to conduct this edge-of-envelop test to simulate the extreme situations that may arise in the field," Jones added.
Northrop Grumman Space Technology has been a pioneer of SDR technology for more than two decades.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With more than 125,000 employees, and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.