A High-Power Phase Shifter for Phased Array Systems

In many large phase-phase array systems It is desirable to provide RF phase shifting at the input to rows, columns, or sub-arrays of element phase shifters in order to drastically reduce the complexity of the phase control system. The phase shifting may be provided by a high power phase shifter which must necessarily handle all the power that the row, column or sub-array radiates. To provide this high power phase shifting capability, a 115 kw peak, 600 watt average power C-band phase shifter has been developed. The unit is a Reggia-Spencer type of phase shifter capable of 360 degrees of continuous reciprocal phase shift. It is 2.4 by 2.1 by 8.2 inches, and weighs less than 1.5 pounds. This paper covers the design and development of the unit.