80W GaN SSPAs for spaceflight application

Astrium and SEDI have designed, manufactured and qualified a range of high power, high efficiency GaN transistor devices in S and L bands. Formal qualification testing of the SEDI GaN HEMT process was completed in July 2011 and additional testing was completed in October 2011 to gain full JAXA qualification. At equipment level, Astrium has completed the Engineering Qualification Model (EQM) development of an S Band GaN SSPA, including Electronic Power Conditioner (EPC), for near term flight deployment on a major navigation satellite programme. The paper describes the range of GaN devices developed together with a summary of the qualification activities and a presentation of performance achievements.