Empower RF Systems, a company that develops smart power amplifier solutions for EW, threat simulation, radar, communications, and product testing, has introduced a new amplifier that sets the bar for extreme high-power solid state COTS amplifiers. The Model 2236 is liquid-cooled amplifier that combines the output of two six foot cabinets with each cabinet combining sixteen 2U power amplifiers. Lower and higher power versions of this amplifier are available due to the scalable and modular design.

Operating from 2800 to 3500 MHz, the flexible pulse handling capabilities of this fielded system includes 20% duty cycles with pulse widths from 200 ns to 500 µs and PRF of up to 500 kHz.

The 2236 is designed for lower total cost of ownership and higher availability than TWTs and legacy solid state implementations. The transmitter consists of a system controller in a 3U 19-inch rack unit and a total of thirty two 2U 19-inch rack amplifier drawers with each amplifier drawer containing an integrated power supply in its 2U chassis.

There is no separate system level power supply. This arrangement eliminates the risk of an RF section or single power supply failure taking the entire amplifier offline. In the event of an RF pallet or PA drawer failure, only a fractional reduction of output power is realized, and the amplifier system remains on air.

A single 2U PA drawer and 3U system controller would comprise a spare system. Servicing costs and technician expertise are much lower due to the Fast Field Replaceable (FFR) design. Drawers can be hot swapped (optional) or muted swapped (standard), from the front, in less than 15 minutes. The result is a system with extreme Effective MTBF. Droop correction option is available.