The leading producer of cutting-edge satellite parts and radio frequency (RF) systems, St12 RF Solutions, the US division of SWISSto12, has announced the development, qualification, and delivery of three fully-integrated RF Antenna Feed Chains for a commercial GEOStar-3 satellite program being carried out by Northrop Grumman. In January 2024, SWISSto12 finished the validation procedure and gave Northrop Grumman the three combined feed chains for payload integration.
The delivery of SWISSto12’s RF Antenna Feed Chains to Northrop Grumman, following its space validation, marks a noteworthy advancement in the field of next-generation RF payload solutions. The fully-integrated monolithic assemblies of SWISSto12’s RF Feed Chains include mechanical interfaces, horn apertures, filters, polarizers, and diplexers that are 3D printed as a single component. With the use of SWISSto12’s patented Radio Frequency Additive Manufacturing (RFAM) methods, designs can be optimized to reduce weight and size while still satisfying the exacting RF performance and qualification standards set forth for this Northrop Grumman commercial GEOStar-3 program.
SWISSto12 has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge Additive Manufacturing technology for radiofrequency applications, generating significant momentum in the aerospace sector. In the past, manufacturing constraints affecting cost competitiveness, weight, size, and performance limited the designs of radiofrequency products. Thanks to the RFAM technology developed by SWISSto12, it is now possible to produce extremely complex, detailed, and non-conventional product designs that were before unattainable. By utilizing superior production tolerances, plating methods, surface finishes, and RF designs, SWISSto12 is able to produce products that are competitive in terms of size, weight, and RF performance.
“SWISSto12 is delighted to announce this first delivery to Northrop Grumman of cutting-edge Radio Frequency Antenna Feed Chains for one of its commercial GEOStar-3 programs,” stated Scott Wolf, Managing Director of St12 RF Solutions, the US subsidiary of SWISSto12. Our innovative capabilities in Radio Frequency Additive Manufacturing, along with the superior monolithic designs made possible by 3D printing, have set a new standard for the size, weight, and performance of antenna feeder chains. Our ambition to push the boundaries of current payload capabilities to better secure and connect every part of the earth has been validated by the over $200 million in client orders that our Radio Frequency Additive Manufacturing and HummingSat geostationary SmallSat businesses have fulfilled to far.
