Challenges of advanced EHF SATCOM terminal development

The authors discuss the development cycle for EHF SATCOM military terminals based on system requirements that include technical and programmatic uncertainties; generic technical problems; specific technology alternatives for antennas, solid-state amplifiers, EHF/SHF analog circuits, digital circuits, fiber optics, and superconductivity; and technology transition approaches. It is concluded that multiple advanced-development-model terminals and major subsystems should be developed simultaneously to minimize risk, foster competition, expedite demonstration of novel technologies, reduce costs, and reduce schedule delay.<>