Akon

What Akon does

AKON Inc. is a privately held U.S. defense electronics manufacturer founded in 1980 and headquartered in San Jose, California. The company designs and builds RF and microwave components, Integrated Microwave Assemblies (IMAs), and Integrated Microwave Subsystems covering frequency ranges from 0.5 GHz to 50 GHz for airborne, ground, shipboard, and space platforms. Core product categories include amplifiers (low noise, medium power, dual-channel), DLVAs/ERDLVAs/SDLVAs, switches, filters, attenuators, phase shifters, power dividers, detectors, switch matrices, fast-stepping LO assemblies, digital frequency discriminators, ECM transceivers, receiver subsystems, and tuners. Technology is differentiated by vertical integration (in-house switch, filter, and amplifier manufacturing), MIL-STD compliant processes, 35+ automated test stations to 40 GHz, a dedicated Space Lab clean room, and 200+ years of combined engineering experience in microwave circuit design.

The company's revenue model is built on custom quote-based hardware sales across components, IMAs, and integrated subsystems, supplemented by contract manufacturing (build-to-print or turnkey RF/microwave assembly with optional RF testing). AKON sells through direct enterprise engagement with defense primes and government agencies, supported by a network of domestic sales representatives covering specific U.S. territories and defense supply centers. Multi-year program contracts and long product qualification cycles are the norm. The customer base is concentrated among U.S. defense primes (Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Raytheon, DRS, ITT) and government/military end customers (U.S. Navy, JPL, Naval Research Laboratory, Indian Air Force, Turkish Navy, Brazilian Navy, DSTO Australia), with AKON hardware specified into named programs such as AEGIS, JSTARS, SLQ-32, ALQ-131, and the F-15/F-16 radar warning receivers.

In 2018 AKON extended its product line into 5G and millimeter band commercial markets up to 50 GHz while continuing to invest in defense products such as 45 GHz switches and 40-51.5 GHz converters. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, M&A activity, leadership changes, or revenue figures, and operates with regulatory standing that includes SECRET Facility Clearance, ITAR/EAR/DFAR compliance, MIL-I-45208 qualification, and MIL-STD-883 screening capability.

Name

Akon

Legal name

AKON Inc.

Website

https://akoninc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AKON Inc. is a privately held U.S. defense electronics manufacturer founded in 1980 in San Jose, California, designing RF and microwave components, integrated microwave assemblies, and subsystems from 0.5 to 50 GHz for defense primes, government agencies, and aerospace customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

RF/Microwave Components

NAICS

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

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Communications Equipment, Nec (3669)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Electronic Warfare (EW) & SIGINT/ELINT Systems (IMABAGAB), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

Keywords

• RF microwave components
• Defense electronics
• Integrated microwave assemblies
• Microwave subsystems
• Aerospace components

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. RF/Microwave Components Sales: Sale of discrete RF and microwave components including amplifiers, switches, filters, attenuators, phase shifters, detectors, and power dividers covering 0.5-50 GHz frequency ranges
2. Integrated Microwave Assemblies (IMAs): Custom integrated microwave assemblies combining multiple components into subsystem packages for specific customer applications
3. Integrated Microwave Subsystems: Complete subsystem solutions including tuners, receivers, transceivers, digital frequency discriminators for electronic warfare and defense systems
4. Contract Manufacturing: Build-to-print or turnkey manufacturing services for RF/microwave components with or without RF testing

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

AKON designs and manufactures RF and microwave components, integrated microwave assemblies (IMAs), and subsystems for military, defense, and aerospace applications. The company delivers both custom-engineered and standard RF solutions to defense prime contractors and government end-users serving mission-critical programs.

Product overview

AKON is a manufacturer of RF and microwave components, Integrated Microwave Assemblies (IMAs), and Integrated Microwave Subsystems for military, defense, and aerospace applications. The product portfolio includes three main categories: (1) Components such as RF/microwave amplifiers, log amplifiers (DLVAs, SDLVAs, ERDLVAs), switches, filters, attenuators, phase shifters, power dividers, and detectors; (2) Integrated Microwave Assemblies including fast stepping LO assemblies, switch filter banks, RF sources, and switch matrices; (3) Integrated Microwave Subsystems such as digital frequency discriminators, ECM transceivers, receiver subsystems, and tuners. Additionally, AKON offers 5G and millimeter band products operating to 50 GHz. All products serve airborne, ground, shipboard, and space applications with frequency coverage from DC to 50 GHz.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Switching speeds as fast as 70 ns for LO assemblies
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mercury Systems: Mercury Systems is a defense-focused RF/microwave and embedded computing subsystems manufacturer serving the same Tier-1 primes (Lockheed, Raytheon, Northrop). Like AKON, it designs and manufactures integrated microwave assemblies, EW subassemblies and ruggedized RF components for airborne, ground and naval platforms.
• MACOM Technology Solutions: MACOM designs and manufactures high-performance RF, microwave and millimeterwave semiconductors, components and subsystems. It directly overlaps AKON's amplifier, switch, filter and frequency-converter portfolios and competes for the same defense EW and radar sockets.
• Qorvo: Qorvo is a leading RF/microwave IDM serving defense and commercial markets with GaAs and GaN MMICs, amplifiers, filters and integrated modules. AKON and Qorvo compete head-to-head in defense RF front-ends and EW content, particularly in radar warning and electronic attack programs.
• Mini-Circuits: Mini-Circuits manufactures RF/microwave components (amplifiers, filters, mixers, switches, power dividers) covering DC–50+ GHz. It directly overlaps AKON's discrete component catalog and competes for both commercial and defense demand at similar price points.
• Pasternack (Infinite Electronics): Pasternack is a catalog distributor/manufacturer of RF/microwave components, interconnect and test equipment. It overlaps AKON's discrete component offering (amplifiers, attenuators, switches, filters) and is a comparable catalog-plus-custom RF supplier.
• Herley Industries (Ultra Electronics): Herley/Ultra Heritage designs and manufactures RF/microwave components and integrated subsystems for defense EW, radar and missile programs. It is one of AKON's closest pure-play peers in integrated microwave assemblies and EW subassemblies.

Broad incumbents

• Crane Aerospace & Electronics: Crane A&E supplies RF/microwave components, power and sensing subsystems to defense and aerospace primes. It is a larger, diversified incumbent that competes with AKON in defense RF and microwave content for major platform primes.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a top-tier defense prime with significant EW (ALQ-172, ALQ-249), radar warning and electronic surveillance content. It is both a customer-class peer (acquires RF content from AKON-class suppliers) and a competitor for next-generation EW subsystem design.
• Teledyne Technologies: Teledyne's defense electronics segment (Teledyne Microwave Solutions, Teledyne RF & Microwave) designs and manufactures microwave components, integrated assemblies and EW subsystems. It competes with AKON across RF components and space-qualified assemblies.
• Analog Devices: Analog Devices (including legacy Hittite) is a broad-line IDM with a deep defense RF/microwave IC and module portfolio. It overlaps with AKON in amplifiers, converters and detector products and is a likely competitor or supplier within the same prime supply chains.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akon-inc

Compliance5 records

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 Akon