Vacuum tubes and MPMs in jamming and ECM applications

摘要

Transmitter systems used for jamming and ECM applications often make use of vacuum tubes. These are usually TWTs as these have traditionally been the only type of devices capable of delivering several tens of watts at the frequencies used by combat radar and active homing systems. Their high level of performance ensures that TWTs are still widely used in applications where space and power is limited such as airborne missiles and highly manoeuvrable launch systems. The development of micro power modules IM PM) has enabled groups of TWTs to operate as parallel modules. Current development work, and production systems in the USA, have demonstrated the potential of TWTs to compete with solid state devices for many years to come in certain applications.