MMIC's for space-borne systems: status and prospects

Fifteen years after their first demonstration, MMIC's are now rapidly conquering the world of space electronics. The driving forces behind MMIC development have been miniaturization, cost reduction and higher reliability. MMIC's have first been introduced into GEO Telecommunication satellites with a new generation of compact channel amplifier (CAMP). Receiver and solid state power amplifiers (SSPA) are following. After the first convincing demonstrations, MMIC's have now become an absolute necessity for turning into reality future satellites with active antennas, observation radars or future systems such as LEO constellations.