News | July 16, 2020

Qorvo Advances Defense Phased Array Radar Performance And Capabilities With 150W GaN Power Amplifier

Industry-leading product improves range and enhances performance

Qorvo, a leading provider of innovative RF solutions that connect the world, today introduced a GaN power amplifier (PA) that delivers a 50 percent increase in power for improved range, performance and multi-target tracking in S-band (2-4 GHz) phased array radars.

The Qorvo QPA3070 leapfrogs existing industry offerings, providing a first-ever 150 watts of power for the 2.9-3.5 GHz frequency range, 58 percent power added efficiency (PAE) and 28 dB power gain. These achievements are possible through Qorvo’s ultra-reliable and highly efficient gallium nitride (GaN) on silicon carbide (GaN-on-SiC) process technology, which offers superior efficiency, power density and affordability.

The PA delivers these features in a small and cost-effective surface-mount package. It enables engineers to design higher power radar solutions with significant size, weight, power and cost (SWAP-C) improvements – and bring them to market faster.

Roger Hall, general manager of Qorvo's High Performance Solutions (HPS) business, said "Qorvo's GaN products are recognized throughout the industry for power and performance. With more than 30 years of experience delivering aerospace and defense solutions, we have unique insight into the critical role that power plays in phased array systems. That knowledge is at the heart of this industry-first 150W power amplifier optimized for defense and commercial radar."

The QPA3070 PA, with the following specifications, is available now to qualified customers.

Frequency Range 2.9-3.5GHz
PSAT 52dBm
PAE 58%
Power Gain 28dB
Package Size 7x7x0.85mm

Qorvo offers the industry's largest, most innovative GaN-on-SiC portfolio to help customers realize superior efficiency and operational bandwidth. The company's GaN-on-SiC products deliver high power density, reduced size, excellent gain, high reliability and process maturity. Qorvo is a leading supplier of RF products and compound semiconductor foundry services to defense primes and other global defense and aerospace customers. Qorvo is the only supplier to achieve a Manufacturing Readiness Level 10 (MRL 10) rating from the U.S. Department of Defense.

About Qorvo
Qorvo makes a better world possible by providing innovative Radio Frequency (RF) solutions at the center of connectivity. We combine product and technology leadership, systems-level expertise and global manufacturing scale to quickly solve our customers' most complex technical challenges. Qorvo serves diverse high-growth segments of large global markets, including advanced wireless devices, wired and wireless networks and defense radar and communications. We also leverage unique competitive strengths to advance 5G networks, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and other emerging applications that expand the global framework interconnecting people, places and things. For more information, visit www.qorvo.com.

Source: Qorvo