ACTIVE ANTENNA FOR DIRECT SATELLITE-TO-DEVICE 5G/6G COMMUNICATIONS IN FREQUENCY RANGE 1 (FR 1) (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 5B.253) - EXPRO+ - RE-ISSUE

The objective of this activity is to design, develop and test a demonstrator of a Tx and Rx active antenna based on tiles for direct satellite-to-device 5G/6G communications in FR1.Targeted Improvements:Increase the antenna apertures up to 400% with respect tothe platform size while being highly storable and assessing simplification of the beamforming implementation.Description: The direct connectivity between satellites and standard mobile terrestrial user equipment such as smartphones, represents an essential feature of future non-terrestrial networks.Due to the RF characteristics of handheld devices, high antenna gains, and therefore large antenna apertures, are required on board the satellite. However, increasing the size of the array often leads to high complexity dueto the increasing number of phase shifters and/or digital signal processing units.This activity will develop and test a demonstratorof a Tx and Rx active antenna based on tiles for direct satellite-to-device 5G/6G communications in the FR1 L/S-band frequency band. A narrowband beamforming concept will be developed that allows to increase the size of the array while minimising its complexitybydividing the array into subarrays of groups of elements. The array is thus divided into multiple tiles that are deployed in orbit thanks to the same dedicated mechanism. This method reduces the number of weights to steer the beam at group level, thereby minimising complexity. Additionally, this has the advantage to split the beam forming network into two levels: subarray and array level, which simplifies the implementation compared to the fully analogue or digital beamforming approaches. Recent advances in the areas oflightweight material and RF/digital IC in ESA Member States would also naturally support the concept.The activity will design, manufacture, and validate in a laboratory environment a phased array active antenna full -scale engineering model (approximately 4m diameter) based on tiles with a fixed size, operating in L-/S-Band (FR 1). The activity shall seek synergies with the ARTES deliverables aswell as with ongoing direct satellite-to-device antenna projects within ESA Member States that are already being built-up. The activity will be implemented with a phased approach. In Phase 1, the bidder shall demonstrate the technology's feasibility through analysis and testing on a two-tiles scaled-down breadboard (TRL 4). In Phase 2, a reduced scale engineering model (TRL 5), based on afour-tile subarray with a deployable mechanism, shall be manufactured and tested. In Phase 3, a full-scale engineering model (TRL 6), including the full deployable mechanism and the thermal concept, shall be manufactured and tested. Procurement Policy: Open Competitive Tender Type: C