AESA Technology

fully scalable digitally-controlled active phased array front ends

Tailored Scalable AESA Solutions

At EMAG Tech, we are at the forefront of phased array technology innovation, specializing in design, development, and integration of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) systems. We focus on solutions that transcend the boundaries of current system capabilities to achieve optimal form factors, wide beam steering, increased bandwidth, full scalability, and optimization for low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP), as well as cost. Our AESA designs feature the latest radar, amplifier and beamformer chips from our radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) manufacturer partners including Analog Devices, Qorvo, Anokiwave, and so on.

Our AESA solutions are versatile and adaptable, designed to serve a broad spectrum of industries. From defense to aerospace, maritime, and environmental monitoring, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and 5G wireless infrastructure, our phased array front ends deliver critical capabilities where precision, reliability, and adaptability are the expectation. Our solutions are tailored to meet the unique challenges of each domain, ensuring success in your specific application.

EMAG Tech develops, manufactures and delivers AESA systems and complete self-contained RF front ends at L, S, C, X, Ku, K and Ka bands. Extension to higher frequency bands like V, E and W can be investigated under research and development efforts. We can accommodate different aperture sizes and power levels for different types of communication, radar or sensing applications from miniaturized drone-based systems to super large deployable space-based panels.

Why EMAG AESA?

Compact Power

EMAG Tech’s AESA-based RF systems are engineered for performance in a compact form. Our designs compensate for portability and ease of integration across a variety of platforms – from aerial drones and satellite payloads to ground vehicles and maritime vessels. Our AESA architectures are distinguished by their optimally compact design while delivering exceptional performance in a streamlined package. The radiating elements are typically arranged within the minimal physics-driven spacing. Underneath every radiating element a complete independent transceiver chain is situated comprising a T/R switch, a power amplifier (PA), a low-noise amplifier (LNA), a beamformer circuit, with integrated DC power supply and SPI lines from an FPGA-based digital beam controller. Vertical integration schemes are utilized to secure the integrity of board-to-board interconnections and thermal management at the cell level, mitigate internal and external RF interference (RFI) effects and achieve the optimal mechanical packaging of the whole system.

Spatial Precision

Central to our phased array technology is full beam steering capability, which facilitates precision and adaptability. This feature enhances target detection and tracking accuracy significantly, thereby ensuring comprehensive spatial coverage and improving the operational efficacy of our radar systems. Active phased arrays are cornerstones of 5G and 6G wireless technologies, enabling effective point-to-point terrestrial communications. AESA systems are also finding their way into satellite communications, offering effective RF front end alternatives for both inter-satellite and ground-to-satellite links. AESA’s adaptive beam pointing capability eliminates the need for bulky mechanical antenna positioners for both space- and ground-based terminals or any burdensome requirements on the satellite attitude control.

Scalability means reduced NRE

Using 3D integration strategies, EMAG has developed scalable AESA architectures for different frequency bands from L to Ka and above. These beamforming architectures are digitally controlled and can easily be scaled up to realize large space-based antenna apertures or scaled down to fit the limited payload capacity of a lightweight drone. In parallel with aperture scalability, we have also developed scalable digital control, DC power supply and thermal management architectures that warrant easy scalability of the overall AESA system. From the customer’s point of view, scalability directly translates into reduced non-recurring engineering (NRE) cost. It enables us to put together a proof-of-concept or demo prototype in a very short time. It also provides a cost-effective pathway for the extendibility of our existing AESA system designs.

Efficiency Redefined

We are committed to delivering low-SWaP AESA system solutions without compromising on performance. Our designs focus on minimizing size, weight, and power consumption while optimizing cost-effectiveness. This commitment ensures our radar and communication systems are not only advanced in technology but also accessible and sustainable for diverse applications. An important aspect of AESA systems is their thermal management scheme, which impacts their power efficiency and array-wide coherency, as well as reliability. EMAG Tech has developed sophisticated thermal management strategies involving both conductive and convective cooling that combine cohesive networks of thermal vias, heat sinks and straps, fans and embedded liquid channels and pumps to achieve the best results.

Mission-Critical Reliability

An important aspect of AESA systems is the array calibration process, which is driven by each particular application context. The overall coherency of the array aperture is affected by active device variability due to either their manufacturing process or temperature fluctuations, as well as digital quantization errors and other architecture-specific factors such as RFI vulnerability, shielding effectiveness, etc. Through close collaboration with our customers, we develop a custom calibration process that meets their most demanding performance requirements. Besides conventional and standard methodologies, we have the unique advantage of exploiting our non-invasive, ultra-wideband, in-situ, near-field measurement system NeoScan for amplitude and phase characterization. Our AESA front ends also provide a high degree of operational reliability thanks to their unique graceful degradation feature. Through computer simulation we have demonstrated that a large AESA maintains acceptable performance metrics even if 10% of its individual channels randomly break down.

Our Process

Design & Prototyping

Each EMAG communication or radar solution begins with understanding your specific requirements. Our design process is collaborative, innovative, and flexible, ensuring that our delivered AESA-based RF system exceeds expectations while meeting operational requirements.

Seamless Integration

The integration of our communication payloads and radars into your existing systems is a smooth and streamlined process, performed by our experienced engineering team. We ensure that our AESA-based RF system is not only physically compatible but also aligns seamlessly with your system’s architecture.

Characterization

Through our network of suppliers and printed circuit board manufacturers, EMAG Tech has the capacity to produce end-to-end communication and radar systems at small to medium volumes. All of our manufactured systems are thoroughly inspected, tested and characterized in our own facilities based on a mutually-agreed-upon test and qualification plan.

Industry Applications

Our AESA radars are versatile and adaptable, designed to serve a broad spectrum of industries. From defense to aerospace, maritime, and environmental monitoring, our radars deliver critical capabilities where precision, reliability, and adaptability are the expectation. Our solutions are tailored to meet the unique challenges of each domain, ensuring success in your specific applications.

Let’s get to work

Contact us today to discuss how our AESA technology can meet your operational needs. Join us in shaping the future of low-cost, high-performance, RF front ends.