Ball Aerospace will deliver a multi-beam phased array antenna systems as part of a new contract bagged by BAE Systems for the U.S. Navy Network Tactical Common Data Link (NTCDL) System.
The NTCDL system enables multiple simultaneous, high-bandwidth communications links, which greatly enhance current mission capability and ship protection, allowing for a future sensor network across the Navy. Ball is building the Ku-band phased array antenna suite for BAE Systems.
These multi-beam planar phased array antennas are based on silicon germanium (SiGe) technologies on a single circuit board, which results in a low-profile antenna. The designs leverage technologies and manufacturing techniques developed by Ball for the commercial market. Ball's internal research and development (IRAD) investments, along with those of the Office of Naval Research (ONR), have enabled this phased array antenna capability to be available to the military market. The antennas will initially be installed on naval aircraft carriers. The system will communicate with a range of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms.
This contract represents the first phase of the program which will result in low rate initial production for the hardware with corresponding engineering support. Development and production will be performed at Ball's manufacturing facility in Westminster, Colorado.
