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K & Ka-band space TWTs

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Thales K and Ka Band TWTs set the standard for data transmission in HDTV, multimedia applications, military missions and scientific missions.

Thales is the world's leading supplier of Traveling Wave Tubes (TWTs) for satellites and other spacecraft.  Our TWTs are used on satellites spanning the full range of civil and military applications including space-based TV and radio broadcasting, data transmission, telecommunications, internet, observation and navigation.

Thales has developed unrivaled expertise in space-borne TWTs with a product offering at frequencies from L band to V band and power levels to 250 watts. Thales has been widely recognized as a pioneer and innovator in space TWTs, while we have consistently developed new technologies that have led to decisive improvements in TWT efficiency and thermal performance. These advances have allowed satellite manufacturers to increase transmission power and reduce spacecraft mass. Thales also provides TWT amplifiers (TWTAs) for space applications, and we can offer a high performance solution covering all current needs.

Our K-band TWTs operate at frequencies from 17 to 21.5 GHz and up to 170 watts of power.  Our Ka-band TWTs operate at frequencies from 26 to 32 GHz and up to 60 watts of power. 

K & Ka-band Space TWT Milestones (through the end of 2007)
- Nearly 1200 K & Ka-band TWTs in orbit
- Logging over 10 million hours of in orbit service


Thales's complete line of space TWTs has an equally impressive record at the end of 2007
- 10,000 flight models delivered
- 300 million hours in-orbit
- 25 million hours added every year
Tubes tailored to all applications
K-band systems are mainly used for military data transmission and broadband sitcom networks for multimedia applications (Internet/HDTV). Ka-band systems are used for scientific missions, mainly to deep space.
A majority of spacecraft operating in K & Ka-band rely on Thales TWTs
Thales has more than 40 years of experience in developing innovative technologies for space. We have contributed to the steady improvement in space borne TWT performance including increases in efficiency, operating lifetime and continuous reductions in TWT mass. Our K & Ka-band TWTs have benefited from these innovations and proven their heritage in orbit.
Count on Thales for reliable and long-term solutions
Our K-band space TWTs products offer up to 170 W of power and our Ka-band space TWTS offer up to 60 W, easily meeting all current requirements. Thales electron tubes for space applications are made using fully qualified processes, which allows for a quick transition to production at the very beginning of your program. It also allows us to tailor the TWTs performance characteristics to match your requirements, while still meeting your program’s delivery schedule.
The world’s only dedicated space TWT production facility
Thales Components & Subsystems has two world-class production facilities located in Velizy, France and Ulm, Germany. These facilities are Certified to both ISO9001:2000 and ISO 14001. Thales offers a cumulative production capacity from these two facilities of more than 150 TWTs per month. Each facility has the highly trained personnel and specialized equipment needed to assure on-time delivery of our state of the art space Traveling Wave Tubes. Our TWTs set global standards for reliability and performance in space borne applications.

 
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