What Mirad Microwave does

MIRAD microwave AG is a privately held Swiss specialty engineering company that designs, manufactures, and supplies passive microwave RF systems and components for the global satellite communications industry. Operating from its headquarters in Wittenbach in eastern Switzerland, the company covers a frequency range from 1 GHz to 70 GHz and delivers solutions spanning ground-station antenna feed systems, waveguide filters and diplexers, switching and combining networks, rotary joints, and on-board spacecraft antenna assemblies. Its technical differentiators include proprietary multi-band feed designs, high-power RF components rated up to 25 kW with water cooling, passive intermodulation (PIM) measurement capability down to below -135 dBm, and an in-house 8m x 6m x 6m anechoic chamber for antenna testing from L-band to V-band. The company holds SN EN ISO 9001:2015 certification (since 2013) and claims over 30 years of RF technology experience.

MIRAD's revenue model is built on custom engineering and low-volume, high-value contracts sold via direct enterprise engagement with space agencies (ESA, DLR, Galileo program), aerospace and defense primes (Airbus Defence & Space, Rheinmetall Italy), and commercial satellite operators and ground station integrators (Eutelsat, Goonhilly Earth Station, Calian). Pricing is quotation-based, tailored to frequency band, power handling, and customer specification, typically under multi-year procurement cycles. The product portfolio is modular: feed systems integrate internally produced components (filters, couplers, loads, rotary joints) that are also sold standalone for third-party integration. Notable flight-heritage includes X-band Antenna Assembly units delivered for KOMPsat (still operating in orbit since 2009/2015), Egyptsat, and Egyptsat-A, while ground-segment wins span ESA deep space antennas (Cebreros, Malargüe), the EDRS ground network, DLR Weilheim and Neustrelitz Sentinel stations, the Galileo navigation ground segment, and Jupiter 3 high-throughput satellite gateways.

The company competes as a niche specialty supplier rather than a scaled platform, with all manufacturing, testing, and engineering executed from its single Swiss site and supported by a local supplier network. Its go-to-market relies on technical credibility, reference projects, and direct sales engagement rather than channel partners or marketing-driven demand generation. MIRAD's strategic positioning is concentrated in European institutional space and the adjacent commercial HTS/Q/V-band market, with completed project references in Europe, Australia, South America, and North America.

Name

Mirad Microwave

Legal name

MIRAD microwave AG

Website

https://mirad.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MIRAD microwave AG is a privately held Swiss specialist that designs and manufactures passive microwave RF systems and components (1 GHz to 70 GHz) — including feed systems, waveguide filters, diplexers, and spacecraft antenna assemblies — for satellite ground stations, space agencies (ESA, DLR, Galileo), and aerospace primes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

RF and Microwave Components

NAICS

Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Communications Equipment Manufacturing (3342), Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33429)

SIC

Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (3663), Communications Equipment, Nec (3669)

akta.pro primary industry

Passive Filters & RF Passives (LC Filters/Diplexers/Baluns/Attenuators) (HDAHANAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

RF & Microwave Connectors and Coaxial Assemblies (HDAHAOAD), Microwave & RF Signal Chain ICs (Mixers/Detectors/Attenuators) (HDAHAMAL)

Keywords

• Passive microwave components
• RF subsystems
• Satellite communications equipment
• Microwave filters
• RF engineering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wittenbach

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. RF Systems and Components Sales: Design, manufacture and sale of passive microwave systems and components including feed systems, waveguide filters, diplexers, combiners, switching systems, and antenna assemblies for satellite communications ground stations
2. RF Engineering Services: Engineering services including RF system and component design, antenna design and analysis, microwave physics analysis for high power RF devices, and RF/antenna measurements and verification
3. Custom Waveguide Solutions: Customized rigid waveguide assemblies and accessories including routing, rotary joints, pressure windows, and air-inlets manufactured to customer specifications

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Mirad Microwave designs, develops, and manufactures passive microwave systems and components used in the satellite communications industry. The company operates across a frequency range of 1 GHz to 70 GHz and brings more than 30 years of RF technology experience to its product offering.

Product overview

MIRAD microwave is a leading supplier of passive microwave systems and components for the satellite communications industry. The company operates from 1 GHz to 70 GHz and offers three interconnected product lines: RF Systems (including Standard Feed Systems, Custom Build Feed Systems, and Switching & Combining Systems), Components (including Feed Combiners, Waveguide Filters, Directional & Hybrid Couplers, Loads & Terminations, Waveguides & Accessories, and Filter/Diplexer/Multiplexer products), and Space-qualified Antenna Assemblies (XAA series). The product portfolio is modular and interoperable—feed systems incorporate multiple component types (feed combiners, filters, couplers), while components are available as standalone products for third-party system integration. Key offerings include multi-band feed systems supporting simultaneous transmit/receive across L through V-band frequencies, high-power RF components rated up to 25 kW, and space-qualified antenna assemblies for spacecraft deployment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Antenna efficiencies of 89-91% achieved for Ka/Q/V-band ground station designs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership for development of deep space antenna feed systems, launch support systems, and ground station technology. Delivered X/K-band feeds for ESA Deep Space Antenna 2 & 3, S/XX multiband feeds for NNO-2 acquisition aid antenna, and high-power X-band filters for ESA HPAs.
• German Aerospace Center (DLR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on K/Ka-band ground station antenna for GSOC Weilheim, tri-band S/X/K feed system for Neustrelitz site supporting Copernicus/Sentinel missions, and multiple Q/V-band antenna designs for DLR facilities.
• Airbus Defence & SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for X-band antenna assemblies (XAA) for KOMPsat program, XAAE for Egyptsat, and XAPA for Egyptsat-A. Developed on-board spacecraft antenna assemblies with strict mass and envelope requirements.
• CaliancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for design and delivery of Q/V-band and Ka/Q/V-band antenna and feed systems for Jupiter 3 high throughput satellite ground stations. 10 units delivered 2019-2021 for latest HTS communications.
• Goonhilly Earth StationmajorTechnology or IntegrationS/X-band feed system upgrade for GHY-6 32-meter beam waveguide antenna to support lunar missions and Artemis program, enabling UK station to communicate directly with deep space missions.
• EutelsatmajorTechnology or IntegrationMultiband Ku/DBS-band switchable feed system for in-orbit testing (IOT) of satellites, providing tracking capability and motorized polarization for 9m antenna.
• Rheinmetall Italy S.p.A.majorTechnology or IntegrationDevelopment of 25kW X-band harmonic reject filters for ESA high power amplifiers installed in deep space antennas at Cebreros and Malargüe.
• Galileo Ground Segment (ESA/SES/Industrial Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign and delivery of S-band tracking feed systems for Galileo navigation satellite ground segment. Six units delivered 2008-2018 for 13m-class antennas supporting Europe's global navigation system.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Communications & Power Industries (CPI): Large incumbent manufacturer of RF components, amplifiers, and satellite communication subsystems including ground-station feed networks. Operates a broader portfolio but overlaps directly with MIRAD in high-power filters and satcom RF hardware.
• Thales Alenia Space: Major European satellite prime contractor and subsystem supplier with in-house RF/antenna capabilities. Competes with MIRAD on full ground-segment system integration while also being a potential customer/integrator for MIRAD's components.
• Radio Frequency Systems (RFS): Global manufacturer of RF cable, antenna, and waveguide products for broadcast, telecom, and satcom. Adjacent competitor in feed systems and waveguide distribution for satellite ground stations.

Direct peers

• QuinStar Technology: US specialist in millimeter-wave and microwave components including waveguide filters, diplexers, and feed networks for satcom and defense applications. Comparable niche positioning and product overlap with MIRAD's filter and feed portfolio.
• HUBER+SUHNER: Swiss-headquartered manufacturer of RF connectivity, waveguide, and antenna products serving aerospace, defense, and satcom markets. Geographic and product overlap with MIRAD, particularly in waveguide assemblies and RF components.
• Tesat-Spacecom: German supplier of RF components and systems for satellite communications, including feed systems, filters, and waveguide assemblies for ESA and commercial operators. Direct competitor to MIRAD across ground-station and space-qualified RF hardware.
• ETL Systems: UK-based manufacturer of RF distribution equipment for satellite ground stations, including switching matrices, combiners, and feed systems. Closely comparable product portfolio and shared customer base among satellite operators and broadcasters.
• ARRA Inc. US manufacturer of passive microwave components including waveguide filters, couplers, and high-power terminations. Comparable niche engineering supplier serving satcom and defense RF system integrators.
• Narda-MITEQ (L3Harris): US-based manufacturer of passive and active RF/microwave components including waveguide filters, diplexers, and feed networks for satcom and defense. Direct competitor in passive microwave components for satellite ground systems.

Emerging players

• Pasternack (Infinite Electronics): Catalog distributor and manufacturer of RF/microwave components including waveguide products. Competes at the standardized-component end of the market that overlaps with parts of MIRAD's portfolio, though lacking MIRAD's deep customization capability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about

Compliance1 record

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 Mirad Microwave