Raytheon, an RTX business, has been awarded a four-year, $15 million contract from Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to increase the electronic capability of radio frequency sensors with high-power-density Gallium Nitride transistors.
DARPA, basically is a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.
The improved transistors will have 16 times higher output power than traditional Gallium Nitride with no increase in operating temperature.
This new prototyping work is being performed under DARPA’s Technologies for Heat Removal in Electronics at the Device Scale program, known as THREADS.
Raytheon is partnering with the Naval Research Laboratory, Stanford University and Diamond Foundry to grow diamond, the world’s best thermal conductor, for integration with military-grade GaN transistors and circuits. Cornell University, Michigan State University, the University of Maryland and Penn State University are also providing technology and performance analysis.
For nearly 25 years, Raytheon has invested in Gallium Nitride research and development, using it in defense systems like the Patriot®, LTAMDS/GhostEye family of radars, APG-79(v)4 and SPY-6 family of radars.
Work on this contract is being conducted in Andover, Massachusetts.
About RTX
RTX is the world’s largest aerospace and defense company.
With more than 180,000 global employees, the company push the limits of technology and science to redefine how it connect and protect our world.
Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon – RTX is advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges.
The company, with 2022 sales of $67 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
