Development and production of a 1.3 GHz, 300 kW CW klystron

Communications and Power Industries has designed and manufactured the VKL-7967A, a high-efficiency, high CW power L-band klystron. The klystron operates at 1.3 GHz and is designed to saturate above 300 kW CW RF output with ≥65% efficiency. The users intend to operate in the linear range of the transfer curve and therefore required 270 kW CW RF output with ≥0.5dB/dB incremental gain and ≥52% minimum efficiency. Two klystrons have been manufactured and successfully tested. Their performance data are compared with the simulations performed during the design.