dB Control was awarded a $12 million contract for high voltage power supplies to support U.S. and foreign military missions using terrain avoidance radar in hostile environments. The company also received an additional $1 million contract for custom high voltage power supplies to support radar test and target systems in very harsh environments. Together, the two orders are the largest awarded to dB Control since the company was founded in 1990.

“Radar technology is used in a wider range of applications than ever before. While these applications are diverse, one thing they have in common is the need for reliable high voltage power supplies that meet strict size, weight and power requirements,” said dB Control Vice President of Sales and Marketing Mike Lee. “dB Control is a unique manufacturer that is agnostic to the TWT or GaN solid-state output device, offering high voltage and low-voltage power supplies for high power amplifiers operating in very harsh environments.”

Below are a few examples of real-world applications in a variety of domains currently using radar technology:

  • High-resolution imaging such as ground-penetrating radar for underground mapping, synthetic aperture radar for remote sensing, and weather radar for meteorological observations are used in geology, agriculture, environmental monitoring, urban planning and other applications.
  • Missile avoidance systems on military and civilian aircraft use radar to detect and track incoming missiles, enabling the aircraft to deploy countermeasures or take evasive action to avoid being hit.
  • Terrain mapping and imaging by ground-based radar systems provide detailed terrain data for aviation and maritime navigation, and spaceborne radar satellites like RADARSAT and Sentinel-1 that offer a global perspective for disaster monitoring, land use mapping and environmental studies.
  • Radar-based navigation systems are used in the maritime and aviation industries for remote navigation and surveillance. Shipborne radar systems enable vessels to navigate safely in adverse weather conditions and congested waterways, while airborne radar systems provide situational awareness for aircraft during flight operations.
  • Ground-based defense systems use radar to detect and track enemy aircraft and missiles, guide interceptor missiles and provide early warning of potential threats.
  • Radar-based surveillance systems are employed in various security and monitoring applications, including border surveillance, perimeter security and air traffic control. Ground-based radar networks and mobile radar systems provide continuous surveillance of airspace and ground movements, supporting law enforcement and homeland security efforts.

dB Control Also Specializes in Power Products for EW, ECM and Data Link Applications

Built to withstand harsh environmental conditions in both military and commercial applications, dB Control’s power products are suitable for shipboard and ground-based mobile systems, as well as unpressurized airborne environments. The company’s proprietary potting and encapsulation processes provide extremely dense packaging without sacrificing reliability or performance. Products include:

  • High-power, helix and coupled cavity traveling wave tube amplifiers covering the 1 to 50 GHz frequency range are available with continuous wave or pulsed power from 35 watts to several kilowatts and can be phase combined to offer even higher power outputs.
  • High-efficiency, conduction-cooled microwave power modules (MPMs) providing extremely dense packaging across the 2 to 46 GHz frequency band are available with continuous wave or pulsed power. Each MPM is a complete microwave amplifier that uses traveling wave tubes or GaN solid state amplifiers, along with high- and low-voltage power supplies, and is based on a modular design for easy customization.