BAE FAST Labs to Support DARPA Electronic Oscillator Development Program

BAE Systems has secured a $17.5 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to support the Generating RF with Photonic Oscillators for Low Noise program.

Under the contract, BAE’s FAST Labs will work on high-performance electronic oscillators, which require large amounts of energy from bulky systems. FAST Labs will use BAE’s solutions to make the oscillators more efficient, robust and stable while drastically reducing their overall size.

The business will also work with communications solutions startup GenXComm to develop the photonics subsystem under the GRYPHON program. GenXComm, a subcontractor for the DARPA effort, specializes in developing advanced micro-photonics for radio frequency signal processing, BAE said.

The end result of the GRYPHON program could enable low-noise, compact and agile RF solutions that can be used for airborne sensing and communications. Chris Rappa, chief technologist at FAST Labs, said the DARPA initiative is an example of applying new concepts to enable “leap-forward” innovation.

BAE FAST Labs offers research and development services to the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. The topics that FAST Labs researchers cover include electronics, engineering and communications.

GenXComm is an Austin, Texas-based startup that offers 5G-enabled solutions that improve operations for industrial manufacturing, warehousing and logistics, airports and seaports, and extractive industries sectors. The company was introduced to FAST Labs through the organization’s Technology Scouting arm, which looks out for organizations that come up with novel technologies.