C-Band LC-SSPA

Status

Completed
Status date

2021-01-11
Activity Code

5C.290

Objectives

Telecom payloads and satellites are strategic for Thales Alenia Space. The choice of internal development of SSPA has been done to control and accurately monitor critical items, such as performances (output power, power consumption & dissipation, linearity, mass), technologies and costs.

Thales Alenia Space wanted to speed up the introduction of the European GaN technology according to a vertical housing approach for own new generation of SSPA.

Thanks to this new C-band LC-SSPA EQM, Thales Alenia Space has increased its market share for Telecom applications.

Challenges

For C-band applications, the main challenge resides to propose a really competitive LC-SSPA compared to TWTA solution regarding to the mass, footprint, output power and power added efficiency.

So, the challenges have been focused on management of the high power RF section and power dissipation capability in a stringent volume.

Benefits

Thanks to this new C-band LC-SSPA, Thales Alenia Space increases its market share for Telecom applications.

The following table shows the main benefits of this product compared to LC- TWTA solution:

Parameters	LC-SSPA	LC-TWTA
Frequency band	3.7-4.2GHz	3.7-4.2GHz
Typical Power class	90W	90W
Power class capability	up to 126W	up to 150W
Average PAE@sat	38%(*)	50/55%
T° acceptance	75°C	+60/80°C
Manufacturing cycle	12/13 months	15/16 months
Footprint	2.7dm²	4.6dm²
Mass	2kg	2.7kg

(*) PAE will be improved thanks to on-going development.

Features

The proposed equipment is consisting in a stand-alone unit composed of :

a new RF chain including a low level section based on GaAs technology and a high power section based on GaN technology,
a new EPC section using new techniques, new technologies and new parts with improved thermal capability in order to respond to the vertical constraints and efficiency,
a new digital TMTC board,
a new reduced footprint thanks to a vertical housing

EQM C-band GaN SSPA equipment mechanical features

Parameters	Typicals values
Useful frequency range	3700 - 4200 MHz
Frequency Bandwidth	400MHz
Typical Reference Input Power (RIP)	-55/-20 dBm
Typical Reference Output Power (ROP)	100W
Averaged PAE	38%
NPR	>15dB@-3dBOBO
Mass	<2kg
Dimensions (LxWxH)	281mm x 117mm x 142mm
Reliability @+40°C	700 FITS
Qualification temperature range	-10°C / 80°C
Modes	FGM/ALC/Mute
Telemetries	PRF, Ibus, setting