MMIC Technology and Integrated Avionics

This paper presents the results of studies conducted to define GaAs MMIC chips and modules which achieve significant cost, weight and volume savings in electronic warfare (EW) and communication, navigation, and identification (CNI) applications. The studies were motivated by the critical need for reduced EW/CNI avionics weight, volume, and cost for the new LHX, ATF, and ATA aircraft platforms. An overview of the results is presented, proposing the developmnt of common, functionally interchangeable, integrated avionics moduls (i.e., standard electronic building blocks) required to successfully integrate avionics advancements into new and existing aircraft platforms.