RF & Microwave Electronics

NASA Wideband Demo Completes Primary Mission, Extends Operations

NASA’s Polylingual Experimental Terminal (PExT), designed to enable interoperability between satellite relay networks, has completed its planned technology demonstration.

Engineering Spacecraft Components at Scale for Commercial Space Growth

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Brian Ippolitto, Vice President of Space Systems at Marotta Controls, discusses how spacecraft component engineering is evolving to meet the accelerating demands of commercial space growth. Listen now!

How Star Catcher’s In-Space Power Grid Could Eliminate Satellite Power Constraints

Star Catcher Industries is developing an in-space power grid that captures sunlight in orbit and delivers it wirelessly to satellites on demand. The...

A New Approach to Designing RF Power Amplifiers for Modern Military Systems

Modern military systems, from radar and electronic warfare platforms to communications networks, depend on radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers to transmit signals...

This New GaN Chip Provides W-Band Wireless Links for Military Radars

Northrop Grumman has built a new Gallium Nitride (GaN) chip that sets a new standard of performance for military and commercial use. The chip fully leverages the W-band...

This New Quantum Sensor Measures 3D Direction of RF Electromagnetic Fields

Army scientists achieved a major milestone in quantum sensing technology that could transform how electromagnetic signals are detected on the battlefield.

Transportable Space Force Antenna Expands Multi-Band Testing at Naval Research Lab

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has received a transportable satellite tracking antenna system from the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command...

Accelerating Spacecraft Development with AI, Digital Twins, and Simulation

During the 2026 Siemens Realize Live conference and exhibition in Detroit, MI, the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast interviewed Dr. Tom Stoumbos, Simulation and Test Leader at Northrop Grumman, about the company’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital simulation and testing tools to design, manufacture, and produce new satellites and space technologies. Listen now!

8 Emerging Space Startups

Powering momentum in the space sector is a new generation of commercial startups designing, building, and flight-testing breakthrough technologies that will enable sustained human presence in low-Earth orbit, on the Moon, and fuel deep-space missions. Read on for a look at eight emerging startups.

Product of the Month

See the product of the month: Nikon Corporation's APDIS MV5X, the latest addition to its APDIS Laser Radar product lineup.

A Quadruped Robot That Can Walk a Balance Beam

Researchers in Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute have designed a system that makes an off-the-shelf quadruped robot nimble enough to walk a narrow balance beam. Read on to learn more.

Radiation-Tolerant Microcontrollers for Expanding LEO Satellite Network

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, we speak with the CEO of Vorago Technologies, Bernd Lienhard, about how radiation-tolerant and radiation-hardened semiconductor technologies are enabling the next generation of satellite constellations, autonomous defense systems, and resilient space infrastructure. Listen now!

JABAS.AI Enables Fully Autonomous Robot Fleets for Agriculture

The University of Lincoln is addressing a significant barrier in agricultural robotics by designing fleets of robots capable of operating safely within complex farm environments. Ceres Agri-Tech has developed JABAS.AI, an AI-enabled autonomy platform that facilitates real-time robot navigation and coordination, even in areas with unreliable GPS and connectivity.

Hardening AI for the Cosmos: New Flash Memory Defies Cosmic Radiation

Researchers have shown that NAND flash memory made with ferroelectric materials can withstand radiation levels up to 30 times higher than more conventional NAND flash memory.

LiDAR Goes Digital

Early LiDAR sensors, built on legacy mechanical architectures, proved the possibility of 3D perception but struggled to meet the demands of production. As the industry matures, the focus has shifted from simply detecting objects to doing so reliably, at scale, and at a price point suitable for commercial deployment. Read on to learn more.

COTS Edge AI Accelerators for SWaP-C Constrained Defense and Space Systems

Edge AI is beginning to incorporate compact generative approaches to support greater autonomy. This shift is accelerating the adoption of COTS edge AI accelerators as an alternative to centralized processing and legacy radiation-hardened compute architectures. Read on to learn more.

Wireless Transceiver Rivals Fiber-Optic Speed

A new transceiver invented by electrical engineers at the University of California, Irvine boosts radio frequencies into 140-gigahertz territory, unlocking data speeds that rival those of physical fiber-optic cables and laying the groundwork for a transition to 6G and FutureG data transmission protocols. Read on to learn more about it.

Finding Hidden Damage in Cold-Formed Steel with Radar and AI

A University of Houston engineer has developed a method to detect possible damage in concealed cold-formed steel construction framing materials hidden behind walls, without having to tear the walls open. Read on to learn more.

WPI Researchers Develop Bat-Inspired AI Drones for Advanced Search and Rescue

For advanced search-and-rescue, a team from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) drew inspiration from bats to create palm-sized aerial robots. Read on to learn more.

How Modular Computing Is Accelerating Modern Defense Technology

On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast, Shaun Fischer, Director of Development and Open Systems Solutions at Leonardo DRS, discusses the company’s newly launched THOR — Tactical, High‑Performance Embedded Computing, Open Architecture, Rugged — embedded computing chassis and the new military applications it is designed to enable. Listen now!

CES 2026: AI, EVs Need These Power Electronics Updates

Physical AI may have been the dominant keyword at CES 2026, but behind all the hype around that, there were still plenty of companies on hand in Las Vegas focused on less flashy headlines. Read on for some examples of companies working on the power electronics required behind the scenes to make our potential artificial intelligence future possible.

Hierarchical 3D LiDAR Localization Improves Robot Positioning

Researchers at Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) in Spain have developed a hierarchical localization system that significantly improves robot positioning in large, changing environments. The method addresses one of the most challenging problems in mobile robotics: the so-called “kidnapped robot” problem, in which a robot loses knowledge of its initial pose after being moved, powered off, or displaced. Read on to learn more.