Magnetics Business & Technology - March/April 2025 - 19

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Raytheon
component system level; and exploitation of magnetic phenomena
in innovative component designs relevant to electromagnetic
systems important to DoD. By finessing minitiaturized magnetics
into the microelectronics mix, chip-friendly magnetic materials
combined with microelectronics could provide a portal to a new
generation of magnetics-boosted circuits.
Among companies playing an active role in the projects were
Northrop Grumman, Metamagnetics and Qorvo. Several research
papers and project reports reviewed aspects of the work:
" Design RF Magnetic Devices With Linear and Nonlinear Equivalent
Circuit Models: Demystify RF Magnetics With Equivalent
Circuit Models " was published in IEEE Microwave Magazine, Vol.
23, Issue 11.
Raytheon has equipped its powerful APG-79 radar array, back-end
processor and operational software to U.S. Navy's F/A-18E/F Super
Hornet, F/A-18 Hornet and EA-18G Growler fighter jets.
Raytheon's Intelligence & Space business unit is another leading
provider of AESA radar for military aircraft and other applications.
Now outfitted with Galium Nitride technology, Raytheon Intelligence
& Space's AESA radars provide aircrews with increasingly
greater engagement ranges, accuracy and reliability.
Defense research & development paves the way
" Monolithically Integrated Self-Biased Circulator for mmWave T/R
MMIC Applications " was published in proceedings of the 2021
IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM). It reported
on the first-time demonstration of monolithically on-chip integrated
circulator devices through the direct integration of polycrystalline
hexaferrite magnetic material with GaN/SiC wafers. A full-duplex
transmit/receive (T/R) MMIC, the first of its kind that is fully integrated
on a semiconductor wafer, was demonstrated as enabled
by this monolithically integrated circulator technology, showing
over 100 times in size miniaturization as compared to conventional
technology with promising applications in radio frequency (RF)
electronics technologies for 5G and beyond.
" On-Chip Miniaturized Magnetic Isolators: Standalone Devices
and Integration With III-V MMICs " was presented by researchers
with Northrop Grumman and Metamagnetics, reporting on the
successful demonstration of a heterogeneously integrated MMIC
that is comprised of an amplifier and a miniaturized isolator on the
same die, accomplished without the use of any post-integration
tuning; also on the small-signal performance of standalone isolators
that were characterized for repeatability and temperature
stability. The presentation was at GOMACTech 2021, the annual
Government Microcircuit Applications & Critical Technology
Conference.
Leonardo a product development leader
Research and development aiming to integrate magnetic components
such as circulators, inductors and isolaters onto semiconductor
materials has been part of the AESA evolution. Photo: U.S. Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
As AESA systems have evolved, research and development
efforts have stimulated advancement in many of the product iterations.
A prime example is the five-year $26 million Magnetic Miniaturized
and Monolithically Integrated Components (M3IC) program
sponsored by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency (DARPA) aiming to integrate magnetic components onto
semiconductor materials, improving the size and functionality of
electromagnetic systems for communications, radar, and electronic
warfare.
The objective was to develop tighter integration of electronic and
magnetic components that could yield smaller radar systems,
higher bandwidth communication over longer ranges, improved
jam resistance, and more resilient EW systems. The program was
divided into three technical areas: integration of magnetic materials
and systems with semiconductor technology; accurate and efficient
modeling of magnetic phenomena from the molecular to the
www.MagneticsMag.com
Leonardo provides another example of the relentless development
as it continues to push the envelope for system standardization
and broader application in naval operations, drone platforms as
well as for commercial maritime and aviation use. Through AESA,
it has enabled new uses for surveillance radars that were previously
not possible, particularly with its Osprey programs.
Continued on page 20...
March/April 2025 * Magnetics Business & Technology 19
http://www.MagneticsMag.com
Magnetics Business & Technology - March/April 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Magnetics Business & Technology - March/April 2025
