The Mid-Frequency Aperture Array

The Mid-Frequency Aperture Array (MFAA) forms part of the second phase of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA-2) and will operate between the frequencies of 450 and 1450MHz. When complete in 2030, MFAA will deliver more than 10,000m
²
per Kelvin of sensitivity using
$\boldsymbol{O}(10^{6})$
antennas in a phased array. The antennas will be distributed within 1024 stations, each approximately 13m in diameter distributed over a maximum baseline of 200km. To deliver the science, we also envisage a large central core area of antennas. This paper highlights the challenges in delivering such a large array and describes a smaller prototype to be realized over the next five years.