ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-10681
Open Date: 15/12/2021 15:02 CEST
Closing Date: 23/02/2022 13:00 CEST

The objective of the activity is to develop and experimentally verify compact filter solutions exploring novel materials and resonator folding techniques to achieve a high Q factor and physical envelopes compatible with the feed spacing in active Ku- and Ka- bandantennas. Targeted Improvements: Volume reduction of 50% with respect to a waveguide implementation whilst maintaining good RF performance.Description: Future satellite systems will embark active antennas. Often a large number of radiating elements are needed and each radiating element is backed by RF functions, including amplification and filtering. Filter implementations based on planar technologies have been studied in the past. The main RF drawbacks associated with this technology are compromises on insertion loss and poor power handling capability. Other solutions based on hollow and ridge waveguide are very attractive but often result in bulky implementations and are often not compatible with the antenna feed spacing. New dielectric materials, resonator topologies and manufacturing techniques have the potential to significantly reduce the volume with respect to the current state of the art, whilst maintaining good RF performance. This activity will investigate and develop compact filter solutions for Ku- and Ka-band transmit and receive active antennas. One transmit and one receive filter breadboard will be designed and manufactured. Testing will include critical parameters such as amplitude and phase variation over temperature. The activity will study and develop suitable interfaces thatallow easy integration at active antenna level and within the RF chain without compromising the RF performance.

Directorate: Directorate Telecom Integrated Applica
Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Audrey Ferreol
Initiating Service: TIA-TT
IP Measure: N/A
Prog. Reference: E/0534-01G – CC-AT 4.0.1
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CA+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EL+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 6-E-III-RF Devices
Products Keywords: 2-L-2/3/4.1-m-Digital: Switching BB