Annex E. International Armaments Strategy
Army Science and Technology Master Plan (ASTMP 1997)

G. Electronics Research

Basic research in electronics supports advanced technology development with millions of applications. Important examples include continued advancement in solid state devices, telecommunications, microwave and millimeter wave circuit integration, image analysis, and low power electronics. As Table E.III-6 shows, many countries host capabilities in these various areas, which support military applications and a wide range of civil applications.

Table E.III-6. Electronics

ELECTRONICS	UNITED KINGDOM	FRANCE	GERMANY	OTHER COUNTRIES	JAPAN	PACIFIC RIM	FSU
Solid State Devices	JESSI/MEDEA research	JESSI/MEDEA research	JESSI/MEDEA research	Many European countries JESSI/MEDEA research	All phases of solid state devices
Mobile, Wireless Tactical Communications Systems and Networks	C3, Networking, Switching, Transmission	World leader in battlefield communications	Networking, Switching, Transmission	Canada Networks, Switching, Transmission Italy Transmission	Computing, Networking, Switching, Transmission
Electromagnetics, and Microwave/Millimeter Wave Circuit Integration	JESSI/MEDEA programs, Microwave tubes, Antennae	JESSI/MEDEA programs, Microwave tubes, Antennae	JESSI/MEDEA programs, Microwave tubes, Antennae	Canada Microwave tubes, Antennae	MMIC, Acoustic wave devices, Microwave tubes
Image Analysis for Automatic Target Recognition and Information Fusion	Signal processing, Target recognition, Sensors	Signal processing, Target recognition , Sensors	Signal processing, Target recognition, Sensors	Sweden Airborne radar Israel Sensors, Target recognition, Signal processing	Signal processing, Sensors		Russia 3rd gener- ation image intensifier tubes
Minimum Energy, Low Power Electronics and Signal Processing	JESSI/MEDEA programs, Non-linear optics, Antennae, Low power devices	JESSI/MEDEA programs, Non-linear optics, Antennae, Low power devices	JESSI/MEDEA programs, Antennae, Low power devices	Many European countries JESSI/MEDEA research	MIMIC, Non-linear optics, Low power devices		Russia Non-linear optics

There are many technical areas which have the potential to advance U.S. military capabilities. Solid-state devices, extensively researched across several decades, has high potential payoff. Basic research continues in an effort to develop new families of devices that operate in the terahertz region or at extremely low power levels. Japan and a number of European countries, through their JESSI/MEDEA program, are active in this area. Battlefield communications continues to be an application of great interest, as the need for real-time battlefield information becomes more critical. A number of countries have developed extensive research capabilities in niche areas ranging from C³ to networking, switching and transmission. Microwave/millimeter wave circuit integration helps to satisfy the need for improved communications, radar and seeker systems. Other direct applications support the "digitized" battlefield. Japan, with its research in MMIC devices and coustic wave devices, is a leader in applicable areas. Again, European countries are involved through the JESSI/MEDEA consortium. Image analysis and target recognition are critical to maintaining superior US forces. This involves the full energy spectrum IR, visible and radar. A number of European countries and Israel are active in these areas and Japan has a rapidly developing capability. Low power electronics is critical for man-portable systems, and has a direct bearing on all of the technologies in this section. Japan has extensive experience in this area and several European countries have developing capabilities.

The Japanese have world class capabilities in solid state devices, telecommunications, microwave and millimeter wave circuit integration and low power devices. The European JESSI/MEDIA consortium has resulted in a number of European countries, particularly the UK, France, and Germany, developing extensive capabilities in solid state devices and increasing capabilities in low power devices. France is considered a world leader in battlefield communications. The UK, Germany, Japan and Canada have extensive niche capabilities.