Development of Ka-Band Helix-TWTs for Communications, Radar and ECM Applications

In 2006, L-3 ETI continued development of high power Ka-Band helix-TWTs: the 8926H 400 W helix-TWT for communications applications and the 8909 H 1 kW peak-power helix-TWT for radar applications. L-3 ETI also expanded its existing high power mm-wave helix-TWT product line by initiating a wide-band mm-wave helix-TWT development program, with a goal of creating a helix-TWT family covering from 18 to 40 GHz either in a single device or by combining two devices. The 8929 H, designed to cover the full Ka-Band from 26.5 to 40 GHz, is the first of the wide-band mm-wave helix-TWTs in development. All three devices discussed in this paper are compact and light weight, sharing the typical packaged dimensions 3" width x 3" height x 14" length and a weight less than 4 lbs.