Name

dB Control

Legal name

dB Control Corp.

Website

https://dbcontrol.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Electronics / RF & Microwave Amplifiers

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Electronic Coils, Transformers & Other Inductors (3677)

akta.pro primary industry

Military Power Supplies, RF/Microwave Components & Ruggedized Electronics (IMABAGAJ)

Keywords

• Defense electronics manufacturing
• High-power RF amplifiers
• Microwave power modules
• Traveling wave tube amplifiers
• High-voltage power supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Fremont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. High-Power RF Amplifier Sales: Direct sales of TWT amplifiers, MPMs, and SSPAs to military organizations and defense contractors for radar, electronic warfare, and communications applications
2. Power Supply Sales: Sales of high- and low-voltage power supplies for defense and aerospace applications
3. RF Components and Subsystems: Sales of RF/microwave components, integrated subsystems, RF switches, sources and receivers acquired through acquisitions
4. Contract Manufacturing Services: Specialized contract manufacturing including transformer winding and testing, full vacuum encapsulation, pressure cure, conformal coating and repair depot services from Fremont facility

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

dB Control designs and manufactures high-power RF and microwave amplifiers (TWTAs, SSPAs, MPMs), high- and low-voltage power supplies, millimeter-wave products, and custom RF/microwave components and integrated subsystems for military and defense applications. The company sells primarily to the US Army, Navy, Air Force, and major defense contractors, with products built to withstand harsh ground mobile, maritime, and airborne environments. Operations are supported by in-house contract manufacturing and a repair depot at the company's 40,000 sq. ft. AS9100D/ISO 9001:2015-certified Fremont facility.

Product overview

dB Control is a defense electronics manufacturer that designs and manufactures a comprehensive portfolio of high-power RF and microwave products for military applications. The core product line centers on TWT Amplifiers (TWTAs), Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs), and Microwave Power Modules (MPMs), which serve as the primary high-power amplification technologies. These are complemented by supporting products including high- and low-voltage power supplies (essential for powering TWTs and MPMs), microwave synthesizers for precision frequency generation, and RF receivers and sources (including IFM units and Integrated Stabilized RF Sources) for radar simulation and EW testing. Following acquisitions of TTT-Cubed (2019), Paciwave (2021), and Charter Engineering (2022), the company expanded to offer custom RF/microwave components including PIN diode switches, detector log video amplifiers, and integrated microwave subsystems. Millimeter-wave products cover Ka, Q, and V-band frequencies. All products are designed for rugged defense environments including ground mobile, maritime, and airborne platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• dBC+CEI: Combined online RF switches portal offering both electromechanical (EM) switches from Charter Engineering, Inc. and solid-state PIN diode switches from dB Control
• dBC

Products and services

• TWT Amplifiers (TWTAs) High-power traveling wave tube amplifiers covering 1-50 GHz frequency range with continuous wave or pulsed power options, built to withstand harsh environmental conditions for shipboard, ground-based mobile, and airborne defense applications.
• Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs) GaN-based solid-state power amplifiers offering alternatives to TWTAs for certain frequency applications; includes models such as dB-8015 (2-18 GHz, 200W CW) and dB-8048 GaN Pulsed Power Amplifier (2.9-3.3 GHz, up to 1500W).
• Microwave Power Modules (MPMs) Compact microwave power amplifiers combining solid-state driver amplifiers with mini traveling wave tubes and integrated high-voltage power supplies, available in various frequency bands (Ka, Q, I/J) with power levels from 80W to 1kW.
• Power Supplies High- and low-voltage power supplies for defense and commercial applications with custom and COTS options and modular architecture; includes high-voltage power supplies for TWTAs operating at 10kV (Ku-band) and 20kV (Ka-band).
• Millimeter Wave Products High-power millimeter-wave amplifiers including GaN solid state amplifiers, TWT amplifiers, and MPMs for Ka, Q, and V-band frequencies covering airborne, maritime, and ground mobile applications.
• Microwave Synthesizers Precision frequency synthesizers including the dB-9006 Magnum Opus offering best-in-class phase noise performance with frequency range from 100 MHz to 27 GHz at 1 Hz resolution.
• RF Receivers and Sources Custom RF receivers and sources for radar simulation systems and electronic warfare testing, including IFM units (dB-9001, dB-9002), Integrated Stabilized RF Sources (dB-9003, dB-9005), and Integrated Digital Control Units (dB-9004).
• RF/Microwave Components and Integrated Subsystems Custom RF and microwave components including PIN diode switches, PIN attenuators, PIN limiters, switch matrices, switch filter banks, detector log video amplifiers (DLVA/SDLVA), and integrated subsystems for defense applications.
• Coaxial EM and PIN Diode RF/Microwave Switches Electromechanical and PIN diode switches for RF and microwave applications; includes coaxial switches from Charter Engineering (DC to 40 GHz) and solid-state PIN diode switches with configurations from SPST to SP24T.
• Contract Manufacturing Services Specialized contract manufacturing services including transformer winding and testing, full vacuum encapsulation, pressure cure, conformal coating, and repair depot services performed at the Fremont facility.
• dB-4345 and dB-4311M Rack-Mount TWTAs Rack-mount continuous wave TWTAs with embedded microcontrollers and Ethernet interface, designed for electronic warfare simulation and RF testing applications.
• dB-3774B 6-18 GHz Pulsed MPM Compact, lightweight pulsed MPM operating in 6-18 GHz frequency range with 1 kW peak power at 5% maximum duty cycle, designed for high-performance electronic warfare applications like radar jamming.

Quantifiable outcome

• Modular power supply efficiency typically >90%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Charter Engineering, Inc. (CEI)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 August 2022Acquired in August 2022, Charter Engineering is a leading manufacturer of precision RF electromechanical switches and components with over 50 years of design experience. CEI manufactures coaxial switches operating from DC to 40.0 GHz and is a leader in low intermodulation products and very-high-power RF switches. The company is AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 certified and operates from its own facility.
• Paciwave, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 6 October 2021Acquired in October 2021, Paciwave adds specialized RF and microwave components including PIN diode switches, PIN attenuators, PIN limiters, switching assemblies and integrated microwave subsystems. Paciwave operates as part of dB Control and relocated to its Fremont, CA facility. Most of Paciwave's team remained with the business.
• TTT-Cubed, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 10 September 2019Acquired in September 2019, TTT-Cubed adds high-end Frequency Locked Oscillators (FLOs), Integrated Digital Control Units (DCUs), RF sources, detectors and controllers to dB Control's product line. Most of TTT's team remained with the business post-closing. The company relocated to dB Control's Fremont, CA facility.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a large prime integrator of EW, radar, and electronic systems that internally develops and procures high-power RF amplifiers — a broad incumbent competing for and supplying programs where dB Control is a subsystem vendor.
• Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman integrates EW, radar, and RF systems across airborne and naval platforms (Jay Banwait joined dB Control from Northrop Grumman), making it both a customer and a vertically integrated competitor.
• Leonardo DRS: Leonardo DRS manufactures advanced defense electronics including RF/microwave subsystems for naval, ground, and airborne platforms — overlapping with dB Control's naval radar and EW amplifier portfolio.
• Hittite Microwave (now Analog Devices): Originally a standalone RF/microwave component maker, Hittite was acquired by Analog Devices and continues to provide RF/microwave components for defense and commercial markets — adjacent competition in RF switches, attenuators, and integrated assemblies.
• Teledyne Technologies (Microwave Solutions): Teledyne's Microwave Solutions unit produces RF/microwave components, switches, and integrated assemblies for defense — overlapping significantly with dB Control's expanded product portfolio (multiple dB Control directors joined from Teledyne, indicating deep industry cross-pollination).

Direct peers

• Communications & Power Industries (CPI): CPI is a major manufacturer of TWTs, TWTAs, and microwave power modules for defense, medical, and satellite communications — a closely matched competitor in the same electron-vacuum and MPM product space as dB Control.
• Comtech Xicom Technology: Comtech Xicom Technology manufactures high-power TWTAs and solid-state amplifiers for satellite communications, radar, and EW — the most direct peer in TWTA technology (Mike Lee, dB Control's VP Sales, is a former Comtech Xicom Western Regional Sales Manager).
• TMD Technologies: TMD Technologies is a UK-based specialist manufacturer of TWTAs, MPMs, and high-voltage power supplies for radar and EW applications — a closely aligned peer competing in the same millimeter-wave and high-power defense amplifier categories.
• Microwave Power Technology (MPT): MPT specializes in high-power RF amplifiers, TWTAs, and solid-state amplifiers for defense and industrial applications — a niche but direct competitor in custom high-power microwave amplification.

Emerging players

• PHARAD: PHARAD designs and manufactures high-performance RF/microwave components and antennas for defense and homeland security — a smaller, emerging peer with overlapping custom RF/microwave content relevant to dB Control's RF components business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dbcontrol
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/db-control

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about dB Control