Helix TWT

e2v has extensive expertise in the design and manufacture of high quality helix TWTs (travelling wave tubes), producing the first glass tube devices in the 1950s before progressing to the production of metal/ceramic tubes a decade later. These rugged and compact designs have since become the market leaders. e2v now supplies to both commercial and military markets.

We specialise in developing tailor-made products to satisfy the specific requirements of our customers. Our engineers draw upon world-class facilities and decades of technical knowledge, while using the most advanced TWT simulation tools.

Our range of helix TWT products covers both commercial and military applications:

• Satellite uplinks - our long life compact designs are suitable for both static and mobile units, in X, Ku, DBS, and Ka bands, at powers up to 500W.
• ECM - our broadband devices, incorporating Multiple Collectors, have been proven at localised temperatures of over 250 degrees C and can withstand very high levels of shock and vibration. The product range includes multi-octave bandwidth (e.g. 4.5 to 18 GHz) tubes at average power levels of 100, 200, and 300W. Packaging variants include full protection, unpackaged and special versions configured for towed decoy use.
• Radar - we have developed a unique technology that has been introduced to a Dual-Mode X-band helix TWT, providing both high PRF operation with low noise under vibration and CW, and can be used in more conventional radar tubes in C and X band.
• Laboratory units - the combination of bandwidth and long life makes our ECM tubes ideal for laboratory applications such as EMC testing.