High efficiency S-band and C-band traveling wave tubes for satellite communications

Boeing Electron Dynamic Devices, Inc. (Boeing EDD) continues to improve the overall efficiency of its traveling wave tubes for space communications. Two recent additions to the Boeing EDD TWT family are the 8555HX, a 50 W C-band TWT, and the 8412HAR, a 135 W S-band TWT. The first 8555HX prototype, S/N 1, has an overall efficiency exceeding 65% across a 400 MHz band, and the second 8555HX prototype, S/N 2, exceeds 66% over 400 MHz. The 8555HX is intended to succeed the well-established 8560H C-band product line, which provides C-band TWTs ranging in power from 20 to 80 Watts across the 3.4-4.2 GHz commercial satellite communications band. Boeing EDD has over 2,500 C-band TWTs in space with over 150 million in-orbit operating hours.