A four-channel radar solution reduces components and simplifies antenna array design while handling signal transmission and reception.
Qorvo has introduced an X-band front-end solution for active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar systems. It combines high transmit output power with low-noise, high-linearity receive performance. Its four-channel architecture reduces the number of radio frequency (RF) components required within the antenna array.
X-band radar systems increasingly use AESAs, including flat-panel phased-array antennas. In these designs, limited space between antenna elements restricts the room available for beamformers, front-end modules (FEMs), and power control devices. External driver amplifiers, power amplifier (PA) control circuits, and RF switches add components and connections, making system integration more complex.
The solution centres on the QPX0252, a four-channel beamformer integrated circuit (IC) that operates from 7.9GHz to 12GHz. It provides sufficient transmit output power to drive compatible Qorvo FEMs, including the QPF5012, directly, removing the need for external driver amplifiers. Companion devices handle gallium nitride (GaN) power amplifier bias control and RF switching, further reducing the RF components needed within the array.
“Beamformers are typically designed as stand-alone components, leaving customers to integrate the FEMs, bias control and RF switching around them,” said Diwakar Vishakhadatta, VP, Defence & Aerospace Products at Qorvo. “We developed the QPX0252 as part of the X-band front-end architecture, defining its transmit, receive and control functions around the requirements of the radar system.”
In high-power radar systems, the front-end module maintains a low system noise figure, while the QPX0252 operates in high-linearity mode. According to Qorvo’s system analysis, this configuration delivers up to 20 dB higher cascaded input 1 dB compression point (P1dB) than other market offerings.
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