This month, FIRST RF completed testing and delivery of the latest shipset of our FRF-240 radar phased array. This radar antenna sets the standard for Detect and Avoid (DAA) performance for large unmanned aerial systems operating around the globe. Measurements collected using FIRST RF's on-site near-field antenna range are used to accurately calibrate these antenna systems, ensuring the success of their critical safety-of-flight mission.

This summer, a small interdisciplinary team of FIRST RF engineers completed successful flight testing of a millimeter-wave (165-180 GHz) passive radiometer. This instrument provides real-time detection of icing hazards that are created by clouds composed of super-cooled liquid water. The information from this device allows the pilot to safely fly fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft—especially unmanned aerial systems—in a much wider range of operating conditions. FIRST RF plans to mature this technology to offer a first-of-its-kind product to support both commercial and military aircraft.

FIRST RF recently updated our LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-rf/) and also launched an Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/firstrfcorp/). Please follow us there as we share more updates and news about the exciting work we're doing.

Lockheed Martin Space announced FIRST RF Corporation as a recipient of its prestigious Outstanding Small Business Award for FIRST RF’s groundbreaking work in digital phased array technology. As one of eight companies to receive this award for 2020, FIRST RF is honored to be recognized for our ability to continue to provide our customers with industry-leading technology and uncompromised support—even under the challenging circumstances presented by COVID-19.

Gogo (NASDAQ: GOGO), the leading global provider of broadband connectivity products and services for aviation, today announced three strategic partners which will play key roles in Gogo's development of its 5G system and network. A true 5G experience requires every piece of the network and the onboard system hardware, software and antennas to be 5G capable.  FIRST RF is pleased to be Gogo's 5G airborn antenna provider.  Read more...

Earlier today, the Air Force Academy’s FalconSAT-6 satellite was successfully launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. One of the FalconSAT-6 payloads, the Harmonic Ionospheric Propagation Experiment (HIPE) features FIRST RF’s FRF-239, a broadband antenna system based on one of our patented antenna technologies. We are proud to have been part of the Air Force Academy team, and congratulate them on the successful launch. Read more…

FIRST RF is excited to have our phased array technology featured in Popular Science. We are proud to be a supplier to Raytheon for their Low Power Radar (LPR) program as we continue to advance the state of the art in low-cost, high-performance phased array antennas.

FIRST RF's wideband synthetic aperture radar (SAR) antenna technology was recently featured in an Air Force SBIR Success Story: http://y2u.be/wP9gxMgsi94. Since its initial demonstration during this Air Force SBIR, the technology featured in this video has been adapted to a variety of FIRST RF products supporting a variety of missions, including electronic warfare (EW), electronic sensing (ES), and communications. More information about these products can be found on FIRST RF's new products page.

FIRST RF recently completed a successful multi-node airborne flight test demonstration with the Air Force as part of an SBIR Phase II program. The Low-Power-Cost-Weight, Rapidly-Installable, Medium-Range Interplane Communications Capability (LIMRICC) system provides operational capability to establish and maintain IP communication supporting VoIP, FMV, file transfer, and web services. With multiple ground and airborne nodes, the demonstration showcased the capabilities of a next-generation ground/airborne mesh network system. The FIRST RF approach leverages MIMO technology by swapping existing UHF antenna installations with a multi-band FRF-161-501 antenna to maintain existing line of sight (LOS) communications while adding this new capability without the need for additional costly installations. By utilizing multiple installation locations, FIRST RF was able to overcome installed pattern and multipath challenges on wide-body aircraft. Partnering these antennas with FIRST RF bi-directional amplifiers as well as MIMO radios resulted in successfully meeting the program demonstration objectives.