21st Century RF and Free-Space Optical Technologies for Military System

Modern RF (microwave and millimeter-wave) systems – particularly radars and satellite communications - rely heavily on solid-state electronics, notably GaAs and GaN transistors and MMICs. Substantial details concerning these technologies are covered in this talk. In contrast devices known as travelling-wave vacuum tubes (TWTs) are required for RF output power beyond the capabilities of solid-state and therefore TWTs are also covered. Active, electronically-scanned arrays (AESA radars) and the Skynet6A military satellite network are described in some detail as important examples. The US Space Force is also described.

Coherent optical systems are also becoming of increasing importance. The example of the Starfire Optical Range is therefore also covered.

Speaker and Presenter Information

Presenter - Since 1989 Terry Edwards has headed-up a consultancy firm known as Engalco-Research, focusing on display systems as well as signal transmission technologies and the global industry. He holds an M.Phil. degree in microwave research and a B Sc in electronics. Terry has led seminars on fiber optics, and has written several articles, research papers and books on microwave electronics and communications.

From 1969 through 1984 he was a lecturer at the Royal Military College of Science (RMCS: Shrivenham) where he taught his specialized subjects to British Army and Navy officers in addition to performing microwave research.

Over the period 1977 to 1979, on secondment to RMCS, Terry taught postgraduate level microwave electronics at La Trobe University in Australia and since 1985 has led many consultancy projects, including for NXP Semiconductors (Netherlands). The NXP project comprised a major private-client 21st century research contract. He has also researched and prepared many industry/market reports focused on his specialist areas of technology. Under sponsorship with a North American corporation, he has reported on markets for RF/microwave-based systems in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Terry has travelled considerably to conferences and trade exhibitions in cities including Atlanta, Denver, Geneva, Italy, London, Munich, Paris, San Diego, San Jose, and Santa Rosa. Later in the 1990s he acted as an expert witness at a Philadelphia court hearing involving a fiber-optics product technology dispute.

Terry has written several books for Artech House and in October 2021, by teleconference, he led a CEI-Europe organized 5-day seminar on noise in RF electronic systems.

Over the years Terry has been actively involved in country hiking, cycling, jogging and some tennis.