True Time Delay Module Finds ‘Needle in a Haystack’ Frequencies Published Nov. 30, 2011 By Beverley Thompson, AFRL/RYOX Sensors WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The Air Force Research Laboratory, in conjunction with L3 ComCept of Rockwall, Texas, has integrated an AFRL True Time Delay (TTD) module into the L3 Miniature Reconfigurable Beamformer (MRB) cards. The MRBs were integrated into an aircraft pod in a ground demonstration, raising the technology readiness level from 4 to 6. The TTD module, jointly developed by AFRL engineers and Cobham Sensor Systems of Richardson, Texas, provides a highly integrated capability to accurately find signals of interest over a wide frequency range. For an airborne platform, the TTD module provides the capability to locate 'needle in a haystack' radio frequency signal emissions on the ground. The AFRL TTD module provides this capability with a 13x size reduction, a 6x reduction in weight, and 3.8x less power than comparable TTD units currently used in the field. This technology is a key enabler for future multi-functional wideband phased arrays as well as large arrays for ground, airborne, or space-based sensors.