The VSS3605, a 13-kW S-band gan power amplifier

Author

Solomon, G. ; Riffelmacher, D. ; Snyder, R. ; Tracy, M. ; Treado, T.

Author_Institution

Beverly Microwave Div., Commun. & Power Ind. LLC, Beverly, MA, USA

fYear

2013

fDate

15-18 Oct. 2013

Firstpage

74

Lastpage

77

Abstract

The introduction of GaN as a solid state semiconductor material has enabled the manufacture of high-power, efficient amplifiers in a small volume. In 2011, CPI developed a 1300-watt S-band solid state power amplifier, CPI model VSS3607. The VSS3607 SSPA is designed around the Cree CGH31240F power transistor. In 2012, CPI power combined 12 VSS3607 amplifiers to produce a very reliable and efficient, air-cooled amplifier, CPI model VSS3605, for radar applications, including Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar systems. This paper will present details of the design and performance data for the VSS3607 amplifier, including results from a 1000-hour life test. This paper will also present performance data for CPI´s 13-kW SSPA, the VSS3605.

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; UHF power amplifiers; cooling; electronics packaging; gallium compounds; wide band gap semiconductors; GaN; S-band power amplifier; VSS3605 power amplifier; VSS3607 amplifier; air cooled amplifier; life testing; power 13 kW; Gallium nitride; Power amplifiers; Power generation; Radio frequency; Reliability; Solids; Transistors; ATC; Solid state power amplifier; gallium nitride;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Phased Array Systems & Technology, 2013 IEEE International Symposium on

Conference_Location

Waltham, MA

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ARRAY.2013.6731802

Filename

6731802