All Digital-RF SATCOM Transceiver Provides the Modular Open Systems Architecture Required to Meet HC3 GRA

Government software standards such as the Software Communications Architecture (SCA) have been proposed and are evolving to facilitate reuse and portability of both software waveforms and hardware. To date these steps have shown limited success in maximizing reuse and reducing costs for new applications. As a result, PM WINT HC3 has been defining a new modular Open Systems Architecture (OSA) that is designed to address these issues using a Government Reference Architecture (GRA) that provides for both hardware and software modularity and portability. An All Digital-RF transceiver design provides programmability and flexibility into a multiple band architecture that can be incorporated into modules that easily meet the HC3 GRA modular OSA requirement while providing many unique benefits. A system concept is presented which employs cryo-genically cooled superconductor microelectronic (SME) technology to enable a next-generation multiple band, multiple channel MILSATCOM system with the goal of achieving HC3 GRA modular OSA compliance simultaneously at frequencies covering the C, X, Ku, Ka and EHF bands. All Digital-RF technology brings revolutionary changes in the design and implementation of RF microwave electronics. For the first time, it becomes practical to implement high frequency RF functions in the digital domain - all accomplished with extreme low-noise performance and spectral purities with ultra-fast speeds otherwise unattainable with competing semiconductor technologies, analog or digital. These new Digital-RF "tools" lead directly to modular system designs that support multi-band and multi-channel operation from a single RF platform with much smaller antennas, increased capacities and flexibility.