Abstract: The invention relates to a configuration of power amplifiers comprising firstly N inputs and N outputs, and secondly N amplification channels. The configuration is such that all of the amplification channels have substantially the same power even if the input signals are of different powers. Each amplification channel has at least one cell comprising two preferably identical amplifiers connected to first and second ports of a coupler having a third port constituting the output of the cell. An input coupler is preferably also provided having one port that constitutes the input of the cell and two other ports respectively connected to the inputs of the amplifiers. Each cell includes means for recombining the signals on the ports of the output coupler in such a manner as to maximize the output power in the event of one of the amplifiers breaking down.

Abstract: A satellite payload having d transparent channels, a first plurality d of band-pass channel filters IMUX of bandwidth .delta. that filter received signals, frequency converters, a plurality k of channel amplifiers (k.gtoreq.d), power amplifiers and a second plurality p of channel filters OMUX that filter the signals amplified by the channel amplifiers and the power amplifiers, d amplifiers assigned to said d channels, the frequency converters including at least one mixer and at least one source of a conversion frequency signal, wherein the g band-pass channel filters IMUX filter the received signals before frequency conversion by the converters.