Optical functions for microwave signals in airborne radar and communication systems

The optical-microwave solutions have become key technologies for space and airborne communication, radar and surveillance systems. The maturity and the performances, in terms of spectral purity and linearity, of optoelectronic components, are such that today they enable optical transmission and processing of broadbandwidth or high-purity microwave signals. Additionally, the use of photonic technologies to assist the analogue-to-digital conversion (ADC) to simplify the RF front-ends.