Commercial manufacturing practices applied to phased array radars

Transmit/Receive Modules for Phased Array Radar are often identified as a key cost driver for the system. The cost structure of the module is driven by both the performance specifications and the choices made in design and manufacturing of the module. Seeking a path to dramtically lower the cost of T/R modules for phased array systems, commercial processes and practices have been adopted for the MMIC design, MMIC packaging and module construction. These new manufacturing approaches offer a path to cost reduction while maintaining a high level of performance.