Evolution and maturation of small space microwave technologies for U.S. Army applications

Key factors in the utility of small satellites are the responsiveness of orbiting space assets, the cost savings over larger, more durable satellites, and the potential benefit to the tactical user. As electronics and RF technologies become increasingly compact and more capable, small satellites offer many advantages over their larger counterparts from technology refresh rate and timely access for the tactical user to significantly reduced launch costs. This paper reviews several small satellite-related development efforts for tactical military applications with an emphasis on the communications technologies being matured.