Quantic MWD Announces New Line of Oscillators Optimized for Space Applications

April 30, 2023
William Walsh

Quantic MWD offers various oscillators, including dielectric resonator oscillators and phase-locked oscillators that are designed to meet the rigorous requirements of military and aerospace agencies. The company has also been delivering hardware for space missions since 2004, that is designed to meet Class K space requirements with group A, B, C, and D testing and with radiation-hardened electronic components. This means that their components can withstand the harsh conditions of space and have been tested to meet the standards required for space missions.

DRO-1080 and DRO-1087 Space Qualified Dielectric Resonator Oscillators (DRO)

Quantic MWD has recently broadened its range of oscillators by introducing the DRO-1080 series with hermetically sealed Kovar packages that comply with the MIL-PRF-38534, ASA, ESA, JAXA, ISRO, CNSA, and RFSA military and aerospace agencies standards. This expansion of their product line represents a significant advancement, as it builds on their space industry expertise and enables the qualification of products for a variety of space missions. The DRO-1080 series of oscillators are put through stringent testing to ensure they meet the high standards of the military and aerospace agencies, which demand components that can withstand radiation and operate reliably in harsh space environments.

Part Number	Description	Frequency Range (Single Frequency)
DRO-1080	Space Class-K DRO with radiation-hardened components and Kovar housing, operating from 1 to 18 GHz	1 to 18 GHz
DRO-1087	Space Class-K DRO with radiation-hardened components and Kovar housing, operating from 18 to 36 GHz	18 to 36 GHz

Other Space Products

Dielectric Resonator Oscillators (DRO) Phase Locked Oscillators (PLO)

Synthesizers

Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA)

Medium Power Amplifiers (MPA)

High Power Amplifiers (SSPA)

Upconverters

Downconverters

Multipliers

Integrated Module Assemblies (IMA)

Subassemblies

Rack Mounted Systems

Overall, the expansion of Quantic MWD's DRO-1000 line of oscillators is a positive development for the space industry, as it provides high-quality components that are tailored to the needs of various space missions. Our expertise in space applications uniquely positions Quantic MWD to deliver fully qualified Class K tested products for GEO survivability, making Quantic MWD a valuable partner for space missions. Our designs lend themselves to meet various system requirements from Industrial to Class-K Space. Depending on our design, we can utilize standard semiconductors, hi-rel electronic devices, and/or radiation-hardened ICs. Quantic MWD is capable of upgrading our products from:

Industrial: Industrial temperature and environmental applications with extended tuning and environmental testing.
Hi-Rel and LEO: MIL-STD-883 testing, traceability, and optional hermiticity
Class-K space: MIL-PRF-38534 and other specification requirements, such as rad-hard components, hermiticity, traceability, and group A, B, C,D testing.

Our microelectronic design and manufacturing capability provide solutions from frequency sources to amplifiers to frequency converters to integrated module assemblies (IMAs). Here are a few of our standard designs with space upgrade paths defined.

Part Number	Description	Level 3 (Class G, D, E, L)	Level 2 Defense (Class H)	Level 1 Critical (Class K)
DRO-10xx	DRO, Free Running Oscillator	S	A
DRO-108x	DRO, Class K, Rad Hard			S
PLO-20xx	PLO, Phase Locked Oscillator, Ext Ref.	S	A
PLO-30xx	PLO, Internal Reference	S	R
PLO-40xx	PLO, 10 MHz External Reference	S	A
PLO-4200	PLO, Dual Loop for Improved Phase Noise	S	A
MLO-10xx	Pulse Modulated Oscillator	S	A
LO-MIX	Up/Down Converter, Internal LO	S	A
ADC	Downconverter	S	A
AUC	Upconverter	S	A
AnX	Frequency Multiplier, 2X, 3X, or 4X	S	A
ALxxxx	Low Noise Amplifiers	S	S
APxxxx	Medium Power Amplifiers to 2 Watts	S	A
MPAxxxx	High Power Amplifiers to 20 Watts	S	A