The FAST Labs research and development organisation of BAE Systems has been awarded a USD 5 M (EUR 4.7 M) contract from the US Office of Naval Research (ONR) in relation to the Common-architecture Amplifier for Low-cost, Efficient, SWaP-Constrained Environments (COALESCE) programme, BAE Systems announced on 8 November 2023.
Under the contract FAST Labs will develop advanced gallium nitride (GaN)-based monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) and module electronics. The programme’s objective is to develop the world’s most efficient high-power amplifier module in its frequency band. The radio-frequency (RF) modules will then be transitioned to small-form-factor US Navy payloads, enabling longer range and greater effectiveness in active electronic warfare applications.
“The COALESCE programme closes the gap between commercial electronics and customised electronics to meet the [US] Department of Defense’s space and power requirements and enable next-generation solutions,” Ben McMahon, technology development manager at FAST Labs, was quoted as saying by BAE Systems. “Together with the Office of Naval Research, we will deliver these electronic solutions to increase survivability for our warfighters.”
BAE Systems will provide capabilities above and beyond what can be found commercially, with its solution designed specifically for harsh military operating environments. The technology’s high power and ultra-small form factor will enable next-generation radar, electronic warfare, and communication applications to be developed.
MMICs and modules for the programme will be fabricated at BAE Systems’ Microelectronics Center Foundry in Nashua, New Hampshire. The FAST Labs organisation in Merrimack, New Hampshire, will work to ensure the technology is relevant across multiple US military branches, applications, and businesses.
