High-Power C- and X-Band Radar Helix TWTs

Increase of average output power and bandwidth is a permanent trend of new radar systems to extend the range in high-jamming conditions. Thales Electron Devices has recently developed two traveling-wave tubes (TWTs) with high average output power in the C- and X-bands. helix TWTs were used to take advantage of the helix structure in terms of broad frequency bandwidth and linear characteristics. This paper presents the technical approach including simulations, technologies, and RF performances of these two TWTs. The first one delivers an output power of 25-kW peak and 1200-W average in the C-band for surface radar applications, and the second one delivers more than 8.5-kW peak and more than 500-W average in the X-band for airborne radar applications.