Arrays at Commercial Timescales (ACT)
Abstract
The Arrays at Commercial Timescales (ACT) program will develop standardized, fully digital phased array system components to enable rapid upgrades to DoD communications, electronic warfare, and radar systems. Phased arrays, which control and steer radio signals, have helped the DoD maintain technological superiority in nearly every theater of conflict. However, current phased array components are based on custom analog electronics, making them expensive to develop, difficult to upgrade, and time-consuming to deploy. ACT will address this challenge by leveraging programmable, commercial-off-the-shelf, digital components that can undergo yearly technology refreshes in response to a continually changing threat environment. This approach can dramatically reduce the time and cost required to develop and update DoD phased arrays. Further, the ongoing cost reductions and performance improvements typical in the commercial sector could enable the DoD to place phased arrays on inexpensive platforms such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles where they have previously proven prohibitively expensive to develop or maintain.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2018
- Source ID
- fa5eea2d4e0a3062e50c0a0d38769b97
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- Root: ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY