DARPA asks BAE Systems to Develop Next Gen Signal Processing and Communication Systems

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded BAE Systems’ FAST Labs contract valued $14 million to develop next generation signal processing and communication systems under Massive Cross Correlation (MAX) program.

These systems will be deployed on a new smaller category of military platforms.

Signal processing is at the heart of critical Department of Defense (DoD) technology such as sensing, imaging, and communications systems. Correlators are a vital tool in comparing, contrasting, and ultimately processing signals. Current digital correlators are large, power-hungry systems that are the size of a briefcase. BAE Systems’ approach to developing analog correlators will maintain or improve performance while reducing the system to the size of a hockey puck.

As part of the program, BAE Systems seeks to deliver a radically more power-efficient analog correlator with high dynamic range and wide bandwidth. It will enable new capabilities including synthetic aperture radar image classification and image formation, automatic target recognition, passive coherent location, and jam-resistant communications in small form factor platforms.

Work on the program, which is part of BAE Systems’ sensor technologies portfolio, includes collaboration with subcontractor the University of Minnesota.