BAE Systems awarded DARPA T-MUSIC contract
BAE Systems will develop new generation mixed-signal electronics capabilities under a contract from DARPA announced on 28 January.
The new capabilities could enable US Department of Defense (DoD) applications including high capacity, robust communications, radars and precision sensors, and lead to solutions that enhance situational awareness and survivability for US forces.
The contract will see BAE Systems' FAST Labs research and development team design and develop wafer-scale technology on a silicon foundry platform that can enable US-based production of next-generation DoD electronics.
DARPA’s Technologies for Mixed mode Ultra Scaled Integrated Circuits (T-MUSIC) programme aims to enable disruptive radio frequency (RF) mixed-mode technologies by developing high performance RF analogue electronics integrated with advanced digital electronics on the same wafer.
The next-generation capabilities that could be made possible with this programme include a combination of wide spectral coverage, high resolution, large dynamic range and high information processing bandwidth. These capabilities, which can cut through the electronic signal clutter, provide leap-forward performance that is mission critical as services rely on electronic sensors in highly congested environments. The new developments could be integrated into electronic warfare, communications, precision munitions and ISR platforms.
Chris Rappa, product line director for Radio Frequency, Electronic Warfare, and Advanced Electronics at BAE Systems' FAST Labs, said: ‘T-MUSIC will incorporate analogue and digital signals on a single chip for high-performance data converters and digital processing and intelligence.
‘The advanced electronics we are developing under the T-MUSIC programme could create the foundation for greatly enhanced DoD capabilities in advanced RF sensors and high capacity communications.’
More from Digital Battlespace
-
AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family
The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
-
BAE Systems gets go-ahead for second phase of mission communications programme
DARPA’s Mission-Integrated Network Control (MINC) programme was set up to develop an autonomous tactical network and enable critical data flow in contested environments.
-
Just Released: Space Technology Report
Why space is an essential part of modern military capabilities
-
Work-from-home warfare: the power of mixed reality
Defence-secure mixed reality headsets can save hours, or even weeks, of travel time to fix defunct equipment or get subject experts effectively “on-site” where they are needed.
-
Northrop Grumman receives follow-on contract for CUAS and C-IED systems
The Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) and Drone Restricted Access Using Known Electromagnetic Warfare (DRAKE) counter-UAS (CUAS) systems are mounted and dismounted RF jammers.
-
Adarga’s Vantage AI software selected for UK Strategic Command’s Defence Support
Adarga’s Vantage information analysis tool is in service with the UK MoD and individual UK forces. It builds on the company’s Knowledge Platform which processes, organises and analyses open source material, as well as information held by the user’s military, security and intelligence services.