High Efficiency, 250 W300 W S-band and 100 W K-band Traveling Wave Tubes for Satellite Communications

Abstract

L-3 Communications Electron Technologies, Inc. (L-3 ETI) continues its development of high efficiency traveling-wave tubes (TWTs) for space communications with the 2006 development of a 250 W - 300 W S-band TWT and a 100 W K-band TWT. These TWTs will enhance L-3 ETI's TWT product line and cover important emerging applications. For TWTs placed in orbit since 1987 (when L-3 ETI, then Hughes EDD, switched to M-coat cathodes), L-3 ETI has a 46 FIT (failures in time) observed TWT failure rate (1 FIT = one failure for every one billion operating hours).