What Amkom Design Group does

Amkom Design Group Inc., founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Marcos, California (with a legal-office presence in Irvine), is a privately held manufacturer of Block Up Converters (BUCs), Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs), and supporting RF subsystems for the SATCOM, VSAT, and defense markets. Its core technology stack is built around GaN and GaAs+GaN hybrid High Power Amplifier implementations with proprietary internal overdrive protection and precision linearization, packaged in its proprietary "Hyper-Light" aerospace-grade aluminum enclosures. The product catalog spans X-Band (7.9–8.4 GHz), Ku-Band — including Low (12.75–13.25 GHz), Standard (14.0–14.5 GHz), and Extended (13.75–14.5 GHz) variants — Ka-Band (27.5–31.0 GHz), DBS-Band (17.3–18.4 GHz), and Mil-Band, with output powers from 1W to 150W and form factors tailored for feed-horn, boom-arm, and manpack mounting. The company claims an MTBF of at least 15 years, WGS/MIL-STD-188-164/RTCA/DO-160G compliance for defense SKUs, and engineering capability up to 110GHz for custom development.

The company monetizes exclusively through B2B hardware sales at quote-based pricing under multi-year contracts, with no public price list. Revenue is concentrated in its core BUC hardware stream, augmented by a growing accessory ecosystem: Smart BUC controllers, indoor/outdoor Bias Tees, Ku- and Ka-Band waveguide quick disconnects, GaN-based 300W and 500W AC/DC power supplies, redundancy system kits, and custom RF design services. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales executed primarily through direct engagement with SATCOM service providers and defense integrators, supplemented by trade-show presence at SATELLITE 2023/2024/2025 (booth #1115), an Indian distribution partnership with RDVW Satcom Solutions & Engineers Pvt. Ltd., and the company's product-catalog website. Target customers include SATCOM/VSAT operators across ground, airborne, marine, mobile, and manpack terminal deployments, and military/defense buyers requiring MIL-STD-compliant uplink equipment.

Name

Amkom Design Group

Legal name

Amkom Design Group Inc.

Website

https://amkominc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Amkom Design Group Inc. is a California-based privately held manufacturer of Block Up Converters (BUCs) and Solid State Power Amplifiers using GaN technology for SATCOM/VSAT operators and defense integrators across ground, airborne, marine, mobile, and manpack terminal applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Satellite Communication RF Equipment

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344), Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334290)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Electronic Connectors (3678)

akta.pro primary industry

Microwave & RF Signal Chain ICs (Mixers/Detectors/Attenuators) (HDAHAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

RF & Microwave Connectors and Coaxial Assemblies (HDAHAOAD)

Keywords

• Block Up Converters
• SATCOM equipment
• Solid State Power Amplifiers
• VSAT ground equipment
• RF amplifier manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Vista

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. BUC Hardware Sales: Sale of Block Up Converters including X-Band, Ku-Band, Ka-Band, DBS-Band, and Mil-Band models ranging from 1W to 150W output power

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Amkom Design Group Inc. manufactures and supplies Block Up Converters (BUCs) and Solid-State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs) for the SATCOM and VSAT markets. The portfolio covers X-Band, Ku-Band, Ka-Band, DBS-Band, and Mil-Band BUCs with output powers from 1W to 150W, supported by accessories such as Bias Tees, GaN power supplies, waveguide quick disconnects, and Smart BUC Controllers. Custom RF design services are also offered for customer-specific requirements.

Product overview

Amkom Design Group is a specialized manufacturer of Block Up Converters (BUCs) and Solid-State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs) for SATCOM and VSAT markets. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized by frequency band: X-Band BUCs (7.9-8.4 GHz), Ku-Band BUCs including Extended (13.75-14.5 GHz), Standard (14.0-14.5 GHz), and Low (12.75-13.25 GHz) variants, Ka-Band BUCs (27.5-31.0 GHz), DBS-Band BUCs (17.3-18.4 GHz), and Mil-Band BUCs for defense applications. Within each band, products are available in multiple series differentiated by power output (1W to 150W), form factor (LIGHTWEIGHT, SLIM FAN-LESS, MINI BRICK, FANLESS BRICK, PHANTOM), and environmental rating (IP67, IP68, IP69K). The portfolio also includes a Low Cost series for budget-conscious applications. Supporting accessories include Smart BUC Controllers, Bias Tees, waveguide quick disconnects, GaN power supplies (300W and 500W), and redundancy system kits. The company provides custom RF design services for customer-specific requirements. All products are designed and tested at their California facility with an MTBF target of at least 15 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• X-Band BUCs (ALSX/ASX/ALX Series) X-Band Block Up Converters operating at 7.9-8.4 GHz with output powers from 1W to 100W, offered in LIGHTWEIGHT and SLIM FAN-LESS series designed for feed-horn and boom-arm mounting for SATCOM terminals.
• Low Ku-Band BUCs (ALKL/ASKL/ATKL/AMKL/APKL Series) Low Ku-Band Block Up Converters operating at 12.75-13.25 GHz with output powers from 1W to 150W, available in LIGHTWEIGHT, SLIM FAN-LESS, FANLESS BRICK, MINI BRICK, and PHANTOM variants.
• Ku-Band BUCs (ALKU/ASKU/ATKU/AMKU/AFKU/APKU Series) Extended (13.75-14.5 GHz) and Standard (14.0-14.5 GHz) Ku-Band Block Up Converters with output powers from 1W to 150W, available in LIGHTWEIGHT, SLIM FAN-LESS, TRIMMED FAN-LESS, MINI BRICK, FANLESS BRICK, and PHANTOM series.
• Ka-Band BUCs (ALKA/ASKA/ATKA Series) Ka-Band Block Up Converters operating at 27.5-31.0 GHz with output powers from 10W to 50W, available in LIGHTWEIGHT, NON-IP, and IP67-rated waterproof versions.
• DBS-Band BUCs (AMDB/ALDB Series) DBS-Band Block Up Converters operating at 17.3-18.1 GHz and 18.1-18.4 GHz with output powers from 10W to 50W.
• Mil-Band BUCs (ALKM Series) Military-grade Ku-Band BUCs for defense applications, available in 25W, 35W, and 50W output power variants with built-in ultra receive band reject filter and IP69K-rated fans.
• Low Cost Ku-Band BUCs (AK/AKF/AKS/AKG/AKL/AKLF/AKLS/AKLG Series) Economical Ku-Band BUCs in extended (13.75-14.5 GHz) and low (12.75-13.25 GHz) frequency variants with output powers from 6W to 20W, available in fanless, slim fanless, and standard configurations.
• Smart BUC Controller (Handheld) Handheld controller for BUC management with a 5.0-inch 800x480 touchscreen, real-time monitoring of PLL lock, temperature, and power levels, supporting Ethernet, RS232, and RS485 connectivity with IP65 rating.
• AMBT-05R Bias Tee Outdoor/Indoor Bias Tee with auto sense/detect 10MHz reference, DC input 12-60 VDC up to 5A, featuring pass-through IF (L-Band), FSK, and internal/external reference signals.
• AMBT-05 Bias Tee Indoor/Outdoor Bias Tee with IF or external DC input (12-60 VDC up to 5A), IP67 compliant, with pass-through IF (L-Band), FSK, and 10MHz reference from modem.
• AMST-05/AMST-05S Bias T Universal micro Bias T power injector supporting DC input 12-60 VDC up to 5A, filtering DC or fan noise with pass-through IF (L-Band) and 10MHz reference; AMST-05S variant features SMA connectors.
• AMK075-QD WR75 Ku-Band Universal Quick Disconnect Waveguide quick disconnect for Ku-Band (10-15 GHz) with marine-grade brass core construction, internal gasket seal, low insertion/return loss, and 5-year warranty.
• AMKA028-QD WR28 Ka-Band Universal Quick Disconnect Waveguide quick disconnect for Ka-Band (27.5-31.0 GHz) with extremely low insertion and return loss, backed by a 5-year warranty.
• ACDC-AM-300-xx 300W GaN Power Supply GaN technology AC/DC outdoor or indoor rack-mountable power supply delivering up to 92% efficiency, supporting 85-265 VAC input with 24, 28, or 48 VDC output options.
• ACDC-AM-500-xx 500W GaN Power Supply GaN technology AC/DC outdoor or indoor rack-mountable power supply with integrated M&C for Amkom BUCs, providing up to 18A output current.
• 16W to 150W Redundancy System Kit Redundancy system kit for BUC systems supporting output powers from 16W to 150W, providing failover protection for SATCOM uplink installations.
• Custom RF Designs Custom BUC and custom RF design services for customer-specific requirements, leveraging engineering capability up to 110GHz.

Quantifiable outcome

• MTBF of at least 15 years during normal operation
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• RDVW Satcom Solutions & Engineers Pvt. Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndian distribution partner for Amkom BUC products. Located in Rohini, Delhi, India. Handles sales and support for Indian market. Contact: +91 84478 99657. Address: Sector 22, Pkt 5, Plot no. 299, Rohini, Delhi 110086, India.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Comtech Telecommunications: Comtech is a diversified SATCOM ground equipment provider with BUC and SSPA content alongside modems, antennas, and full satellite ground systems. Competes with Amkom in the BUC/amplifier segment but as part of a much wider portfolio.
• General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies: General Dynamics is a large prime contractor offering SATCOM earth terminals, antennas, and RF subsystems for defense and government markets. Overlaps with Amkom on defense-grade BUC and amplifier content but operates as a much broader systems integrator.
• ST Engineering iDirect (formerly Advantech Wireless): ST Engineering iDirect (which absorbed Advantech Wireless) manufactures SATCOM hubs, modems, and RF equipment including BUCs and SSPAs. Provides overlapping amplifier products to similar SATCOM service provider customers from a larger platform.

Direct peers

• Communications & Power Industries (CPI): CPI is one of the largest US manufacturers of satellite communication amplifiers and BUCs for defense and commercial SATCOM markets. Highly comparable to Amkom across X, Ku, Ka, and DBS frequency bands and similar MIL-STD/WGS compliance, though at materially larger scale.
• AnaCom: AnaCom manufactures C, Ku, and Ka-Band SSPAs, BUCs, and LNBs for VSAT and SATCOM markets. Direct competitor with overlapping frequency band coverage and similar small-company positioning in the BUC niche.
• Terrasat Communications: Terrasat is a focused BUC and SSPA manufacturer for SATCOM and VSAT applications across Ku, Ka, and X bands. Most directly comparable peer to Amkom in terms of product focus, customer base (defense and commercial SATCOM operators), and small-company scale.
• Mission Microwave Technologies: Mission Microwave designs and manufactures GaN-based SSPAs and BUCs for satellite uplink terminals in X, Ku, and Ka bands. Direct competitor with similar GaN technology emphasis, compact form factor focus, and defense/SATCOM customer overlap.
• Norsat International: Norsat produces microwave components including BUCs, LNBs, and SSPAs for SATCOM, defense, and broadcast customers. Comparable product portfolio across L, C, Ku, Ka, and X bands with similar target verticals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/amkominc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Amkom Design Group