JARIET Technologies introduces the ELECTRA family of direct RF sampling transceivers, a platform pushing the boundaries of analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion. ELECTRA devices operate from very high frequency (VHF) through Ka-Band, spanning 100 MHz to 36 GHz, with sampling rates of up to 64 GSPS. This technology targets demanding applications including radar, electronic warfare (EW), satellite communication (satcom), 6G/5G cellular, test and measurement instrumentation and quantum computing platforms.
Traditional RF systems rely heavily on complex analog frequency conversion chains, including mixers, filters and local oscillators, which add size, power consumption and system complexity. ELECTRA’s direct RF sampling approach eliminates these intermediate steps, providing a cleaner, more integrated solution. The result is a flexible, software-defined architecture that simplifies system design while enhancing overall performance, adaptability and scalability.
BENEFITS OF RF SAMPLING
Direct RF sampling enables the instantaneous digitization of signals across a wide frequency band, eliminating the need for multiple frequency down-conversion stages. This approach reduces system complexity and physical footprint, lowers power consumption and cuts costs by removing analog components. Additionally, the ability to digitize wide bandwidths in real time enables the implementation of advanced digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms that can be updated or optimized via software, providing flexibility for multi-mission and evolving applications.
By capturing raw RF signals directly at high sample rates, systems can achieve higher fidelity and better noise performance, facilitating the detection and processing of weak or transient signals in challenging environments. This capability is particularly critical in scenarios requiring wideband spectral awareness and rapid frequency agility.
ADVANTAGES OF DIGITAL UP/DOWN-CONVERSION
Complementing direct RF sampling, ELECTRA integrates advanced digital up-conversion (DUC) and digital down-conversion (DDC) blocks, which outperform analog frequency conversion techniques in multiple dimensions. Unlike analog mixers and filters, DUC and DDC are implemented in the digital domain, eliminating analog non-linearities, drift and calibration challenges.
These digital blocks provide precise control over frequency translation, filtering bandwidth, phase alignment and gain, all programmable through software. This flexibility is essential for modern communication and radar systems, enabling rapid adaptation to changing signal environments and standards. Moreover, DUC/DDC facilitates simplified multi-channel synchronization and calibration, which is critical in phased-array antennas and MIMO architectures where coherent signal processing across multiple channels is required.
KEY ATTRIBUTES
The ELECTRA family offers direct RF sampling from 100 MHz to 36 GHz, enabling coverage across VHF, UHF, L-, S-, C-, X-, Ku-, K- and Ka-Bands with instantaneous bandwidths of up to 6.4 GHz. The 10-bit ADCs operate at 64 GSPS. The 2T2R and 4T4R transceivers combine ADCs, DACs, PLL/VCO ultra-low jitter internal clocks per transmit/receive pair, coarse and fine DUC/DDC, multi-chip synchronization and a 16-lane JESD204C SERDES interface running 30 Gbps, as shown in Figure 1. Available packages are 25 × 25 mm for dual Tx/Rx and 32.5 × 27.5 mm for quad Tx/Rx versions, enabling multi-channel system integration. Additionally, ELECTRA is offered as packaged ICs, bare die and licensed IP for board-level, MCM, SiP or ASIC development, serving a range of system design requirements.
Figure 1 Example block diagram of ELECTRA.
MARKET APPLICATIONS
ELECTRA’s features serve multiple cutting-edge markets, including EW, radar and phased arrays, satcom, 5G/6G wireless, test and measurement and quantum computing. ELECTRA serves the EW market through its signal digitization for rapid threat detection and countermeasures. It is used in radar, which prioritizes superior resolution, target tracking and low latency processing. In the satcom market, the ELECTRA family is used in gateway links and phased-array antennas for LEO, MEO and GEO satellites. As 5G/6G wireless grows, the ELECTRA family can scale with it due to its operation into the FR2 frequency range. ELECTRA’s ability to both capture and generate RF signals has made it appealing to the test and measurement industry. Finally, the precision RF readout is used in quantum computing. ELECTRA technology spans a multitude of industries.
Advantages in Radar Design
ELECTRA enhances radar system performance by enabling direct digitization of wide bandwidth signals with excellent noise spectral density and phase noise, which translates into better target discrimination. Its multi-channel 2T2R/4T4R architecture supports dense radar arrays with tight synchronization and calibration, enabling scalable solutions that can adapt to evolving operational needs. This flexibility enables radar designers to implement complex waveforms and signal processing techniques that improve situational awareness and threat detection.
Advantages in EW Design
In the demanding domain of EW, where spectral agility and rapid response are vital, ELECTRA’s wideband instantaneous sampling capability captures signals across a broad spectrum in a single step. This reduces system complexity and improves time-to-acquisition. Integrated ultra-low jitter clocks and high dynamic range converters ensure sensitive detection of weak or transient signals in dense RF environments, while multi-chip synchronization supports scalable EW arrays for spatial filtering and jamming. ELECTRA’s programmable DSP and software-defined nature enable rapid adaptation to emerging threats, making it an asset for modern EW systems.
Advantages in Satcom Payloads
Satcom payloads benefit from ELECTRA’s ability to digitize and generate RF signals directly across a vast frequency range up to Ka-Band. This capability supports high-throughput multi-beam and frequency-agile gateway links, enabling more efficient spectrum use and enhanced data rates. By eliminating multiple frequency conversion chains, ELECTRA reduces size, weight and power consumption (SWaP), which are critical parameters in space-borne systems. Its integrated clocking and synchronization enable the coherent operation of phased-array antennas and beamforming modules, which are essential for dynamic beam steering and satellite network flexibility. Software-defined control ensures future-proofing against evolving standards and mission profiles.
Jariet Technologies is a fabless semiconductor company, headquartered in Redondo Beach, Calif. Jariet was founded in 2015 by Charles Harper (CEO) and Craig Hornbuckle (CTO) to develop world-leading RF sampling data converter and RF transceiver ICs. The ICs and IP developed by Jariet are often utilized in advanced receive and transmit hardware found in EW, radar, satellite payloads, satellite ground stations, 5G/6G communications, optical systems, quantum computing, wireless backhaul and test equipment.
Jariet Technologies, Inc.
Redondo Beach, Calif.
www.jariettech.com/
