Mouser - White Papers

Mouser Electronics White Paper As radar and communication systems evolve to support more demanding detection and tracking requirements across aerospace, defense, and commercial sectors, the X-band frequency range has become an important operating region due to its ability to support narrow beamwidths and high target resolution while maintaining antenna sizes compatible with mobile, airborne, and space-based platforms. This whitepaper explores the fundamentals of X-band technology, its key performance advantages, and how Qorvo's latest radar solutions support high-resolution designs across land, sea, air, and space applications. X-Band Fundamentals and Frequency Characteristics Defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the X-band is a microwave frequency range that spans 8GHz to 12GHz. What differentiates the X-band from other popular radar bands, such as the S-band and C-band, is its shorter wavelengths, which range from 2.5cm to 3.75cm (Table 1). Table 1: Frequency range and waveform size of microwave bands currently in use for various applications. Band Frequency Range Wavelength L-band 1GHz to 2GHz 15cm to 30cm S-band 2GHz to 4GHz 7.5cm to 15cm C-band 4GHz to 8GHz 3.75cm to 7.5cm X-band 8GHz to 12GHz 2.5cm to 7.5cm Ku-band 12GHz to 18GHz 16.7cm to 25cm K-band 18GHz to 26.5GHz 11.3cm to 16.7cm Ka-band 26.5GHz to 40GHz 5.0cm to 11.3cm Q-band 33GHz to 50GHz 6.0cm to 9.0cm U-band 40GHz to 60GHz 5.0cm to 7.5cm V-band 50GHz to 75GHz 4.0cm to 6.0cm W-band 75GHz to 110GHz 2.7cm to 4.0cm F-band 90GHz to 110GHz 2.1cm to 3.3cm D-band 110GHz to 170GHz 1.8cm to 2.7cm These shorter wavelengths offer two advantages. First, they allow radar energy to focus into a much narrower beam than is possible with lower-frequency bands. This results in higher-resolution imaging, allowing systems to distinguish between two closely spaced targets. The second advantage is system size and portability. For example, the required diameter of an antenna is proportional to the wavelength of the signals being transmitted. Therefore, the shorter X-band wavelength supports smaller and lighter antennas than S-band (2–4GHz) and C-band (4–8GHz) systems, making it ideal for compact radar units and portable for airborne systems that have strict size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) requirements. X-band also offers a compromise between data rate, signal robustness, and component size. Because rain fade—signal loss due to raindrops absorbing or scattering electromagnetic radiation—becomes a significant concern above 11GHz, most of the X-band spectrum remains well-suited for reliable, all- weather transmission while still supporting high-throughput communications and fine-resolution radar imaging. According to the US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Table of Frequency Allocations, the X-band supports radar, weather observation, maritime, and satellite services. 1 Part of the spectrum is also reserved for deep- space communication, where wide bandwidth and low noise are essential for sending and receiving data over interplanetary distances. These allocations align closely with international guidelines from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which help define similar spectrum use worldwide. While much of the band is dedicated to defense and space communications, some countries have opened portions of the X-band for terrestrial broadband networks, expanding its role in commercial data transmission and backhaul applications. X-Band Applications and Design Considerations By combining a moderate wavelength, high-resolution detection, and weather resilience, the X-band offers a unique versatility that makes it a key frequency range for commercial and defense technologies. These same characteristics also influence how engineers design X-band systems: balancing performance, size, and power consumption for use in applications ranging from fixed infrastructure tracking and detection to compact airborne radar arrays. X-band frequencies are used across various markets, including weather and air traffic radar, maritime navigation, and defense surveillance networks.

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