Switchable BAW filtering and high-efficiency GaN PAs give pulsed ESA radars frequency-agile reception and high-power transmission with fewer RF components.
Qorvo® (Nasdaq: QRVO) announced a C-band radar solution that adds receiver frequency agility and reduces DC power and heat in the transmit chain. Designed for pulsed ESA systems, the solution combines the industry’s first integrated C-band BAW switched filter bank with high efficiency 50 W and 200 W GaN power amplifiers.
C-Band Architecture
At C-band, frequency agility across 5.2 to 5.9 GHz has meant assembling discrete filters, switches and RF routing because an integrated switched filter bank has not been available. At high transmit power, lower PA efficiency increases DC power and heat, and limited gain adds an external high-power driver stage.
The QPB1055 integrates BAW filtering with switching, routing and control, providing contiguous coverage with a combination of high Q, low insertion loss and small size unavailable in a discrete implementation. On transmit, both PAs reduce DC power and heat with high efficiency. The 50 W QPA2311 delivers 55 percent PAE, and the 200 W QPA0018 eliminates the external high-power driver stage.
“We are investing across the C-band radar front end where frequency agility and transmit efficiency are problems the market has left open,” said Diwakar Vishakhadatta, VP, Defense & Aerospace Products at Qorvo. “For customers, this means less custom receive design and higher transmit power without growing the DC power budget.”
The QPB1055, QPA2311 and QPA0018 join Qorvo’s C-band limiters, LNAs, switches and driver amplifiers. The expanded portfolio gives radar customers receive and transmit building blocks backed by Qorvo’s BAW, GaN and system-level RF expertise.
Availability
Samples and evaluation kits for all devices are available now.
Attending European Microwave Week 2026?
Meet with Qorvo to define a front-end architecture around your array’s system requirements. To schedule a meeting at the show, visit Qorvo’s EuMW 2026 event page