Recent progress on optical modules for analog signal remoting and distribution for airborne systems

Abstract

Following the increasing availability of reliable optical components, issued from the telecom domain, analog-optical links based on commercial modules have achieved performances which are close enough to system requirements to be extensively considered. With accurate understanding and modeling of these components, it has been demonstrated that RF photonics can be implemented to transmit and process RF signals in equipment. We report on recent progress concerning the development of several photonic modules to implement transmissions of radar (and electronic-warfare) signals in airborne environment.