$6.9M for Millimeter-Wave Array R&D

Uses ‘em
(click to identify)

Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems in Redondo Beach, CA received a $6.9 million cost-plus-fixed-fee R&D contract. They are to develop and demonstrate a wafer-scale assembly (WSA) process for a batch fabricated SMART three-dimensional cell that will enable affordable, scalable, high performance architectures for millimeter-wave arrays. Solicitation began March 2005 and seven proposals were received. Negotiations were complete November 2005, and work will be complete by October 2007. The Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH issued the contract. (FA8650-06-C-7600)

Millimeter wave arrays are used in a wide variety of military applications, from obstacle avoidance and landing aids for aircraft to fire hot-spot location through smoke, concealed weapons detection, missile and smart weapon guidance, military personnel extraction, and more. Improving them or making them more affordable could have positive effects across a wide range of military systems.