The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy Directorate has awarded Verus Research a 5-year, 3-phase, $7.2-million contract to advance the state of the art in high-power radio frequency pulse-shaping, triggerable sealed switches for high-power microwave (HPM) applications.

Working with teammate, ASR Corporation, Verus Research will develop triggered sealed switches for sub-microsecond, high-voltage pulsed power applications. The Verus Research team, under the direction of Dr. Matt Domonkos, will solve technical challenges, such as optimizing sealed tube geometry, managing the high voltages and currents involved, and ensuring the switches will be operationally ready even after years of storage. The successful effort will facilitate future fielding of smaller and more portable HPM systems.

According to Dr. J. Mark DelGrande, Verus Research Chief Technology Officer, this key win “leveraged several of the Company’s earlier technology initiatives and represents a significant corporate advancement into the development of pulsed power” and other supporting technologies for future HPM systems.