BANC3 has been awarded a U.S. defense contract to design a wideband, non-blocking radio frequency (RF) switch matrix aimed at enhancing the Pentagon’s electronic warfare and signals intelligence (SIGINT) capabilities.
The centerpiece of the project is a 16×12 RF switch matrix, allowing 16 inputs to be connected to 12 outputs simultaneously without interference. Operating across 6–18 GHz and scalable to 40 GHz, the system will be built into a 6U VPX ruggedized architecture optimized for space, weight, and power efficiency in military and aerospace applications.
Such non-blocking RF switch matrices are vital for spectrum monitoring and EW missions, as they allow multiple antennas and receivers to interconnect without signal conflict. This flexibility is increasingly critical against adversaries using frequency-agile X-band (8–12 GHz) and Ku-band (12–18 GHz) systems.
The system is designed with future upgrades in mind, potentially supporting platforms such as the Navy’s P-8 Poseidon, MQ-4C Triton UAS, and Air Force Tactical Air Control Party missions. It also ties into the Pentagon’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) framework, which integrates communications across all services.
Although BANC3 has not disclosed the program’s value or timeline, the effort underscores the DoD’s investment in spectrum-dominance technologies to maintain an edge in contested electromagnetic environments. Beyond military use, similar wideband RF systems may later be applied to regulatory spectrum monitoring and commercial RF testing.
