As the number of CubeSats and small satellites (SmallSats) deployed into low Earth orbit (LEO) continues to grow, mission designers are constantly seeking compact, efficient and flight-proven radio frequency (RF) components that can reliably handle high-data-rate communications. Whether the goal is to downlink payload data or establish inter-satellite relay links, the amplifier at the heart of the RF chain plays a crucial role in link performance.
The TA1165, a new solid-state power amplifier (SSPA) from Triad RF Systems, is designed specifically to meet the demanding size, weight and power (SWaP) constraints of modern SmallSats.
Built for orbit: What is the TA1165?
Source: Triad RF Systems
The TA1165 is a Class AB gallium nitride (GaN)-based amplifier delivering up to 20 W of RF output power across the 5.5 GHz to 8.5 GHz frequency band. This range supports a wide variety of C-band and X-band satellite downlink and interlink use cases, including those leveraging DVB, DVB-S2 and other modern modulation schemes.
The TA1165 is flight-proven, with a history of success in operational LEO satellite missions. This makes it an ideal choice for integrators who need performance they can count on. Triad RF Systems has over 20 years of accumulated LEO flight heritage.
Key features
- 20 W saturated output
Enables long-range downlinks and high-throughput data paths - Wideband frequency range (5.5 GHz to 8.5 GHz)
Supports diverse mission profiles in the C-band and X-band frequencies - Flight heritage in LEO
Proven performance in real-world CubeSat and SmallSat deployments - SWaP-optimized
Compact 6 inches x 2.5 inches x 1.06 inches footprint, lightweight 482 g construction - Flexible power input (12 V DC to 30 V DC)
Integrates easily with typical spacecraft power buses - Modulation agnostic
Designed for linearity and compatibility with DVB-S2 and other high-order digital signals - Built-in protections
Includes over/under/reverse voltage protection, thermal monitoring and open load survivability
Applications: Supporting critical space comms
The TA1165 is engineered for use in:
- LEO downlink chains — Push high-resolution payload data back to Earth
- Inter-satellite links — Enable SmallSat constellations and cooperative satellite behavior
- DVB-based systems — Amplify modulated signals with high fidelity and minimal distortion
Its high linearity and rugged design make it an excellent fit for missions where link integrity and signal clarity are paramount.
Trusted by integrators and engineers
Triad RF has shipped payloads for hundreds of missions bound for LEO, and the TA1165 is the latest evolution of that proven technology. Whether building a CubeSat or a larger SmallSat platform, this unit helps extend the performance of the RF comms system without compromising mission budget or mass limitations.
