The first national security launch for the U.S. Space Force and the final satellite to build out the protected communications constellation is now connected.The sixth Lockheed Martin-built Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) satellite adds increased resiliency and advanced capabilities to the AEHF-MILSTAR constellation which ensures the ability to transmit data anywhere, anytime. 

In this survey, I only included 77 and 79 GHz radar sensors and ICs as 24 GHz sensors will be sunset by 2022. Therefore, companies like ADI, Valeo, Hella, UMS, etc., that are currently mostly involved in only the 24 GHz solutions are not included but expect many of them to move into the higher frequency solutions soon.

Rohde & Schwarz has extended its portfolio for generation and analysis of 5G signal waveforms. For 5G base stations, RF test solutions for the 5G frequency ranges FR1 (450 MHz to 7.125 GHz) and FR2 up to 44 GHz will be demonstrated.

 

Microwave Journal editors Pat Hindle and Gary Lerude cover the March Cable and Connector supplement articles/products, 5G news and Satellite 2020 event in DC.

A room-temperature bonding technique for integrating wide bandgap materials such as GaN with thermally conducting materials such as diamond is intended to improve GaN device cooling to achieve higher output power, improved reliability and reduced manufacturing costs.

Rohde & Schwarz has developed a test solution able to perform the first tests for RF conformance in 3GPP FR2. The introduction of the new mmWave based FR2 frequency range for 5G and the increased use of active antennas without physical connectors requires testing to be performed over the air (OTA).

Satellite 2020 was one of the trade shows that was able to go ahead even though the last day of the exhibition was cancelled. The timing was just right that it occurred right before the major shutdowns in the US went into place. The keynote Monday afternoon was a “fireside chat” with Elon Musk as he was asked about many of his space ventures and plans for the future.

Dana Wheeler, President and Co-Founder at Plymouth Rock Technologies, discusses the concealed weapons and security threats such as their show scanner, specialized drones for standoff scanning, and use of Wi-Fi for passive detection of threats.

A few newer tools in the 5G toolbox that will be implemented this year and beyond will help enable the rollout of 5G networks include Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB), Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) and Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN).