Ferrite Technology Retention for Military Applications

Northrop Grumman CorporationEMS Technologies

DMEA

Ferrite Technology Retention for Military Applications

Northrop Grumman CorporationEMS Technologies

DMEAMarch 2002March 2002

Outline

• Definition

• Characteristics

• Selected Applications

• DMEA/DMS Activity

• Comments

What Are Ferrites?

Ferret shown in Corrugated Waveguide

Simple Ferret

Mustella putorius furo

Ferrite shown in Corrugated Waveguide

Simple Ferrite Components

What are Ferrites?• Magnetized ceramic materials that control the

propagation of microwave signals

Machined ferrite materials 3-port ferrite circulators and switches

• Phase and amplitude control in RF, microwave and millimeter-wave systems for satellite, shipboard, ground based, and airborne systems:

– direct broadcast, – commercial and military communications, – defense systems.

• Standard products:– ferrite circulators, – isolators, – loads, and – switches from 1 to 94GHz.

• Custom products: – autotrack modulators for antenna pointing– high power combiners, – switching networks, – redundancy networks, and – transmit-receive networks

Phase shifters

Advanced Ferrite Applications

Ferrite waveguide switches

Why are they important?• Passive Control of Microwave Propagation

Propagation characteristics of ferrite-loaded transmission lines can be controlled by the magnetization of the ferrite ceramic material

• Building-Block Components– T/R Switches

(3-Port Junction Circulators & Switches)– Phase Shifters

(4-Port Circulators, Switches, and Variable Power Dividers)• Particular Strengths and Advantages

– Low-Loss (Receive Front-Ends) and Low Prime Power (Space)– High Power (necessary for tube-based systems)– High Resolution (control of phase and amplitude)– High Reliability (non-degradable performance)

Ferrite-Enabled Defense Systems• Phased-Array Radars

– Patriot, Aegis, B-1B, Joint STARS, SPQ-9B• Communication Satellites

– DSCS III, MILSTAR, Advanced EHF, Classified• Communication Systems

– F-22 Intra-Flight Data Link, Dark Star UAV Data Link

– Potential JSF, UCAV, etc.• ECM Systems

– ALQ-172 (B-52, AC-130), ALQ-178 (F-16)ALQ-211 (AH-64D, MH-47, MH-60, CV-22)

Beamforming Networks

Solution: Adaptive Nulling SubsystemFerrite-based Beamforming Networks Implementing Phase Control

Problem: Survivable Communications In a Tactical Jamming Environment

Why Ferrite:• Selection of discrete beams• Beam shaping and adaptive

nulling for communications in a jamming environment

• Beam reconfiguration by changing a minimal number of control elements

• Power and Weight Savings

MILSTAR

Synthetic Aperture Radar

Solution: 228 Dual Phase Shifters Per ShipsetUnique Ferrite-based Phase Shifter and Driver Technology, High Rate Manufacturing

Problem: High Resolution, High Accuracy Phase Control for High Performance Synthetic Aperture Radar

Why Ferrite:• High resolution, high reliability• Low insertion loss, high efficiency• High power handling• Low power consumption

Joint STARS

Tactical Datalink Antennas

Solution: Hemispheric Coverage with a Fast-Switched, 78 Beam ApertureFerrite-based Switch Trees Enable this Full-duplex Capable Datalink

Problem: Low Probability of Intercept Situational Awareness Datalink

Why Ferrite:• Reliability

• Ultra-high switching rates

• Low insertion loss

F-22 Raptor

UAV Datalinks

Solution: Slot Array ApertureSlot Array Antenna & Ferrite Phase Shifter Technology

Problem: Low Profile, LPI, Ku-band SATCOM Datalink

Why Ferrite:• Reliability

• Ultra-high switching rates

• Low insertion loss, high efficiency

• High power handling, high EIRP per unit area

Darkstar UAV

RF Countermeasures

Solutions: SIRFC LRU-3ALQ-172 Low-Band LRUsCustom Phased Arrays, RF and Digital Signal Processing for Advanced Jamming Techniques Generation

Problem: Low Probability of Intercept Situational Awareness Datalink

Why Ferrite:• High Power, Low Loss

• High Resolution

• Hot Switching @ High Rates

• Reliability

CV-22

AC-130MH-60

High Power Output

Solution: High Power Output AssemblyFerrite-based RF Power Components

Problem: 4000 watt S-band Down Link to small-diameter mobile antennas

Why Ferrite:• L-band to 96 GHz

• High power handling and low loss are Distinct Advantages of Ferrite

• Low Loss and Low Switching Energy Results in Major Weight Benefits Due to Reduced Prime Power Requirements

XM Radio

High Frequency TDMA

Solution: TDMA Switch MatricesFerrite-based Ka-band Switches and thin-wall waveguide technologies

Problem: High-power/Ultra-Fast Switching Network for Commercial Broadband

Why Ferrite:• L-band to 96 GHz

• Frequency scalability with low loss are Unique Advantages of Ferrite

• Power Consumption and Weight Benefits

AEHF

Irreplaceable, indispensable• SPACE

– Low loss reduces thermal noise for receive applications

– High power/low loss reduces heat generation for transmit applications

– High resolution/fast switching

– High reliability/durability/predictability

• WARFIGHTER

– High reliability/durability/predictability

– High-resolution target discrimination

– Low profile/signature

– Adaptive jamming/anti-jamming

EMS Technologies• Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems identified the DMS issues

in ferrite-enabled systems– EMS is becoming a sole source supplier of microwave and

millimeter wave ferrite materials and components– Niche business economics problematic

• Classic DMS-type problem:– EMS’ unique materials science– One-of-a-kind facilities– First-of-a-kind engineering knowledge base – Limited market – Captive customer (US DoD)

DMEA, NGC and EMS are Partners • Assess and Document the problem• Define the current state of ferrite supply

– Sources of materials– Sources of components and subsystems

• Assess past business performance• Assess impact of semiconductor advances

– Solid-state transmitters and receivers– “Active” phased-array antennas

• Assess emerging microwave control technologies– MEMs switches– Optically controlled photonics –based devices and networks

• Gov’t / Industry emphasis on semiconductor technology– Junction devices (low noise and power)– MIC / MMIC functionality (switches, amplifiers, mixers, etc.)– Solid-state Transmitter & Receiver Modules– Active Phased Arrays (T / R modules)

• Consolidation of Microwave Prime Contractors– Emphasis on System Integration

vs Component Development and Manufacturing– Emphasis on Out-Sourcing of Non-Proprietary Technology

• Decline in Procurement of Defense SystemsConsolidation & Commercial Reorientation of – Component Subcontractors– Material Suppliers

Industrial Base Trends

DMS/MS Ferrite Issues • Primes have eliminated in-house capabilities

– Raytheon (e.g., Patriot, B-1B)Closed major ferrite materials and components operation

– Hughes Radar (e.g., TPQ-37)Purchased by Raytheon, Discontinued (?)

– RCA (e.g., Aegis)Purchased by Lockheed-Martin, Discontinued (?)

• Material suppliers shifting to commercial dielectrics– Trans-Tech– Ampex => Pacific Sierra

• Components suppliers need critical mass– Production quantities are small– Material science expertise diminishing

Understanding Ferrites• Ferrite & MMIC combinations very powerful• Time to field operational systems limits new technology

insertion opportunities (MMIC, MEMS)• DMEA has done the time value, reliability and cost

trades– Life cycle costs favor reinvestment in key existing

ferrite-enabled systems– Foreign military coalitions will continue to develop

and rely on ferrite-enabled systems• Ferrite is an investment in the future