Lockheed Martin Space Partners With SWISSto12 & CAES for Advanced 3D-Printed Phased Array Antennas

SWISSto12 and the firm’s U.S.-based partner, CAES (Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions), have been selected by Lockheed Martin Space business to develop advanced, 3D printed, phased array antennas for upcoming satellite missions.

SWISSto12 and CAES have partnered to bring additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology to the U.S. aerospace and defense manufacturers. The company’s expertise, product and patent portfolio combined with CAES design engineering, manufacturing and test enables RF products and subsystems that meet challenging size, weight, and performance requirements, the companies report.

With initial development conducted at SWISSto12’s headquarters in Switzerland, these 3D-printed Phased Array Antennas will be manufactured by CAES’ new additive manufacturing laboratory in Exeter, NH.

“We look forward to this developing collaboration with Lockheed Martin, a global technology leader in aerospace, space and security. There is tremendous opportunity offered by our 3D printed antenna technology to help upcoming satellite missions optimize their performance and throughput while enhancing their coverage flexibility,” says Dr. Emile de Rijk, founder and CEO of SWISSto12. 

“For decades, CAES has developed and manufactured a variety of antennas, RF subsystems and microelectronics for Lockheed Martin’s space missions,” says David Young, chief technology officer, CAES. “Together with our partner SWISSto12, we are thrilled to collaborate once again to usher in a new wave of pioneering advanced electronic solutions based on additive manufacturing technologies.”

“SWISSto12 and CAES provide a strong mix of innovative technical solutions and skilled talent,” says Kyle Griffin, vice president of Lockheed Martin Space’s Advanced Program Development group. 

SWISSto12 is a developer of advanced engineered radio frequency (RF) products for telecommunications, EW and radar applications in the aerospace industry. The company’s 3D printing technologies and associated product designs can deliver lightweight, compact RF products and subsystems.

SWISSto12 has developed commercial with success in Europe and Israel with prominent partners and customers such as Thales, Elbit, IAI and the European Space Agency. SWISSto12 iSwiss aerospace company, spun off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), is privately owned and backed by prominent Swiss and European Investors.

CAES is a pioneer of advanced electronics for the most technologically challenging military and aerospace trusted systems. As a large provider of mixed-signal and radiation-hardened technology to the U.S. aerospace and defense industry, CAES delivers RF, microwave and millimeter wave, microelectronic and digital solutions. 

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.