A High Power Compact X-Band RF Front-End for Weather Radar Applications

Abstract

The paper presents a high-power compact RF front-end for X-band weather radar applications. The front- end benefits from a novel high efficiency GaN SSPA with 900 W peak power, a low noise receiver, and a low noise fast-switching local oscillator. Circuits for accurate calibration of both the transmit and receive channels are provided. The front-end hardware is fitted into a standard 19″, 4U enclosure, enabling for a rather compact radar layout. Essential design solutions of the front-end are described, and results of the unit tests are presented.