What Microwave Amps does

Microwave Amps Ltd is a Bristol, UK-based designer and manufacturer of solid-state RF and microwave power amplifiers (SSPAs) founded in 1989. The company's product portfolio spans the frequency range 20 MHz to 20 GHz with power levels from milliwatts up to 5 kW in a single module and 20 kW in tower systems, built on LDMOS, Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), and Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductor technologies. Its offering is organized into four families — pulsed power amplifiers (e.g., AM10, AM59, AM61, AM77, AM78 series), high-power amplifiers (AM82–AM97 series), wideband GaN amplifiers (AM3–AM12 series) for electronic warfare and jamming, and low-noise/small-signal amplifiers (AL7–AL28 series) — supplied in both modular form for OEM integration and as 19-inch rack-mountable instruments. All design, circuit board manufacture, metalwork, assembly, and testing are performed in-house at the Bristol facility.

The company serves enterprise customers across scientific research (notably CERN, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory), space (NovaSAR satellite), defense/electronic warfare, RADAR, MedTech, and industrial heating/ISM-band applications, with bespoke amplifier configurations tailored to customer specifications. Revenue is generated almost entirely through direct hardware sales of custom and standard SSPA products, with pricing conducted via direct quote rather than public list pricing. Sales and customer support are delivered through the Bristol headquarters and a global representative network spanning Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. The company is ISO 9001 certified and has delivered over 5,500 bespoke amplifier designs to more than 1,000 customers since inception.

In June 2023, Microwave Amps was acquired by Sweden's ScandiNova Group (now rebranded as Nodica Group AB), becoming one of four specialized subsidiaries alongside ScandiNova Systems, Scanditronix Magnet, and IECO. The parent group employs over 240 people and is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden. Operating as a privately held subsidiary with 11–50 employees, Microwave Amps maintains its own manufacturing operations in Bristol and continues to sell independently under the Microwave Amps brand while benefiting from group-level synergies in pulsed power and high-power electronics.

Name

Microwave Amps

Legal name

Microwave Amps Ltd

Website

https://microwaveamps.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Microwave Amps is a Bristol-based designer and manufacturer of custom solid-state RF and microwave power amplifiers (20 MHz to 20 GHz, up to 25 kW) serving scientific research, defense, space, RADAR, MedTech, and industrial customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

RF and Microwave Power Amplifiers

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Radio & Tv Broadcasting & Communications Equipment (3663), Communications Equipment, Nec (3669), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Power Amplifiers (PAs) & Envelope Tracking ICs (HDAHAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) & RF Gain Blocks (HDAHAMAC), Amplifiers & Comparators (HDAHAIAC)

Keywords

• RF power amplifiers
• Solid-state amplifiers
• Microwave amplifiers
• GaN amplifiers
• Custom amplifier design

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom/Bespoke RF Amplifier Sales: Design and manufacture of custom solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs) to customer specifications. Products range from low-noise small signal amplifiers to high-power CW/pulsed systems. Both modular (OEM integration) and instrument/rack form factors available.
2. Standard Product Sales: Sale of standard amplifier series including AM (Power), AL (Low-noise), and specialized GaN wideband products. Available in module form for OEM integration or as 19-inch rack-mountable instruments.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Microwave Amps designs and manufactures solid-state RF and microwave power amplifiers (SSPAs) covering the frequency range 20 MHz to 20 GHz with power levels from milliwatts up to 5 kW in a single module and 20 kW in tower systems. The portfolio includes pulsed power amplifiers, high power amplifiers, wideband GaN amplifiers, medium power amplifiers, low power amplifiers, and low noise/small signal amplifiers built using LDMOS, GaN, and GaAs semiconductor technologies, supplied as modules for OEM integration or as 19-inch rack-mount instruments.

Product overview

Microwave Amps designs and manufactures solid-state RF and microwave power amplifiers (SSPAs) spanning the frequency range 20 MHz to 20 GHz with power levels from milliwatts to 20 kW. The portfolio is organized into four main amplifier categories: Pulsed Power Amplifiers (AM10, AM61, AM77, AM78, AM59, AM3 Series) for RADAR and high-energy physics; High Power Amplifiers (AM96, AM97, AM85, AM84, AM82, AM81, AM83, AM60, AM49, AM87 Series) for CW and pulsed applications up to 14 kW CW; Wideband GaN Amplifiers (AM3, AM4, AM5, AM6, AM8, AM9, AM12 Series) designed for RF jamming and ECM with instantaneous wideband coverage; and Low Noise & Small Signal Amplifiers (AL7, AL16, AL22, AL26, AL28 Series) for communications and instrumentation. Products are supplied in both modular form for OEM system integration and as 19-inch rack-mountable bench-top instruments. All design, manufacturing, assembly, and testing are carried out in-house at the Bristol facility, enabling rapid prototyping and bespoke tailored solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AM78 Series X-Band pulsed power amplifier series using GaN transistor technology for RADAR applications, covering 8.5–10.5 GHz with output power of 200–600 W, supporting pulsed signals up to 100 µs at 10% duty cycle.
• AM77 Series X-Band pulsed power amplifier series using GaN transistor technology for RADAR and weather monitoring applications, covering 8.5–10.5 GHz with output power up to 200 W.
• AM61 Series C and X-Band pulsed power amplifier series using GaN transistor technology for science and RADAR applications, covering 6–12 GHz with multi-kW peak output power capabilities.
• AM10 Series UHF, L and S-Band pulsed power amplifier series using GaN and LDMOS transistor technology, covering 300 MHz–4 GHz with output power from 100 W to 2 kW, available in modular or 19-inch rack-mountable form.
• AM59 L and S-Band pulsed power amplifier using GaN transistor technology, covering 1–4 GHz with output power exceeding 2 kW, designed for high-energy physics applications such as klystron tube drivers.
• AM96 Series HF to C-Band high power amplifier using GaN and LDMOS transistor technology, delivering multi-kW peak pulsed output power for industrial and high-energy physics applications, available as a 19-inch rack-mountable instrument.
• AM97 Series Class AB LDMOS high power CW amplifier system covering HF to C-Band for high power CW applications up to 14 kW, with modular and upgradeable design, forced air and water-cooled versions, used for ISM band magnetron replacement, RADAR, EW, and broadcast.
• AM85 Series High power microwave amplifier series covering 230 MHz–2.2 GHz with maximum output power of 1–2 kW, using LDMOS, GaAs, or GaN FET designs tuned to customer-selected bandwidths of typically 200 MHz.
• AM84 Series High power microwave amplifier series covering 230 MHz–2.2 GHz with maximum output power of 1000 W, LDMOS and GaAs FET designs tuned to customer-selected bandwidths of typically 200 MHz.
• AM82 Series High power microwave amplifier series covering 700 MHz–2.7 GHz with maximum output power of 200 W, using LDMOS, GaAs, or GaN FET designs offering excellent linearity.
• AM81 Series High power microwave amplifier series covering 500 MHz–3 GHz with maximum output power of 100 W, LDMOS, GaN, or GaAs FET designs offering excellent linearity, with gain up to 50 dB.
• AM60 Series High power microwave amplifier series covering 3–8.5 GHz with maximum output power of 200 W, gain up to 60 dB, tuned to customer-selected bandwidths of typically 500 MHz.
• AM49 High power microwave amplifier covering 3–15 GHz with maximum output power of 80 W, featuring integral output isolator, forward power detector, temperature compensation, and TTL control.
• AM87 High power CW microwave amplifier covering 1.2–3.9 GHz with maximum output power of 1000 W, Class A/AB design for industrial and communications applications.
• AM83 Series High power microwave amplifier series covering 200 MHz–3 GHz with maximum output power of 600 W, LDMOS and GaAs FET designs with gain up to 55 dB.
• AM3 Series Wideband GaN amplifier series covering 20 MHz–3 GHz with output power of 100 W–1 kW, designed for RF jamming and other wideband applications, supplied in modular form for OEM system integration.
• AM4 Series Wideband GaN amplifier series covering 20 MHz–12 GHz with maximum output power of 60 W, multiple frequency bands with efficiencies up to 50%, designed for RF jamming and RADAR applications, supplied in modular or compact bench-top instrument form.
• AM5 Series Wideband GaN amplifier series covering 2–6 GHz with maximum output power of 50 W, designed for RF jamming and other applications with reverse power protection and TTL control.
• AM6 Series Wideband GaN amplifier series covering 500 MHz–6 GHz with output powers up to 100 W, designed for RF jamming and other applications, supplied in modular form for OEM system integration.
• AM8 Series Wideband GaN amplifier series covering 20 MHz–1 GHz with maximum output power of 100 W, designed for RF jamming applications, achieving efficiencies of 40% typical.
• AM9 Series Wideband GaN amplifier series covering 2–6 GHz with maximum output power of 100 W, subject to EU Dual-Use List and UK export controls, designed for RF jamming and science, industrial, and communication applications.
• AM12 Wideband GaN high power amplifier covering 2–6 GHz with up to 200 W CW output power, designed for RF jamming with wideband instantaneous power in a compact modular outline suitable for fixed, mobile, and portable systems, subject to UK export controls.
• AM26 Medium power amplifier covering 1–15 GHz with maximum output power of 10 W, compact MMIC/GaAs FET hybrid design tuned to customer-selected bandwidths of typically 500 MHz.
• AM38A Medium power amplifier covering 0.70–15 GHz with maximum output power of 20 W (up to +43 dBm).
• AM43 Medium power microwave amplifier covering 3–15 GHz with maximum output power of 50 W, gain up to 45 dB, tuned to customer-selected bandwidths of typically 500 MHz.
• AM51 Medium power microwave amplifier covering 1.7–15 GHz with maximum output power of 30 W, compact design with gain up to 45 dB.
• AM53 Medium power amplifier covering 3–15 GHz with maximum output power of 20 W, gain up to 50 dB, tuned to customer-selected bandwidths of typically 500 MHz.
• AM31 Compact FET/MMIC hybrid medium power amplifier covering 5–15 GHz with maximum output power of 15 W, intended for space- and weight-restricted applications.
• AL7 General purpose small signal microwave amplifier covering 1–18 GHz with gain up to 40 dB and output power up to +33 dBm (2 W).
• AL16 Small signal microwave amplifier covering 5–18 GHz with gain up to 30 dB and output power of +20 dBm minimum, in compact module measuring 82×35×17 mm.
• AL22 Small signal microwave amplifier covering 5–20 GHz with gain up to 50 dB and output power of +15 dBm.
• AL26 Series Small signal amplifier series covering 1–6 GHz with gain up to 50 dB and output power up to +27 dBm.
• AL28 Low noise and small signal microwave amplifier covering 0.4–20 GHz with minimum gain of 20 dB and noise figures of 2 dB maximum, ideally suited for link receivers.
• AM25 Medium power amplifier covering 3.4–14.5 GHz with maximum output power of 3 W, compact MMIC/GaAs FET hybrid type with output detector, TTL enable/disable, and gain/temperature compensation.
• AM38 Series Low power amplifier series covering 700 MHz–15 GHz with maximum output power of 20 W, gain up to 45 dB, tuned to customer-selected bandwidths between 100–500 MHz.
• AM7 Medium power amplifier covering 900 MHz–14.5 GHz with maximum output power of 5 W (up to +37 dBm), gain up to 30 dB, tuned to customer-selected bandwidths between 100–500 MHz.

Quantifiable outcome

• Power levels up to 25kW for pulsed, CW and modulated carriers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Nodica Group AB (formerly ScandiNova Systems AB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Microwave Amps Ltd was acquired by ScandiNova Group in June 2023, which rebranded as Nodica Group AB. Nodica Group consists of four specialized companies: ScandiNova Systems, Scanditronix Magnet, IECO, and Microwave Amps. The Group is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden with over 240 employees worldwide.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NXP Semiconductors: Global semiconductor leader with a sizable RF power amplifier business serving cellular base stations and industrial RF — comparable in technology base (LDMOS, GaN) to Microwave Amps' high-power CW portfolio.
• MACOM Technology Solutions: Diversified supplier of RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave semiconductors and modules for aerospace, defense, and industrial — comparable to Microwave Amps through its GaN power portfolio and increasingly integrated amplifier modules.
• Comtech Telecommunications (Comtech PST): Through its Comtech PST unit, designs and manufactures high-power RF amplifiers and switches for defense, electronic warfare, and satellite communications — directly overlapping with Microwave Amps' GaN ECM and space segments.
• Ampleon: RF power specialist spun out of NXP, focused on LDMOS and GaN transistors for base stations, broadcast, and industrial RF — a relevant upstream/downstream competitor to Microwave Amps' LDMOS-based AM85/AM97 high-power CW designs.
• Qorvo: Major RF semiconductor supplier offering GaN-on-SiC power amplifiers and integrated modules for defense and base-station markets — a broad incumbent whose catalog and reference designs increasingly compete with Microwave Amps at the subsystem level.

Direct peers

• Empower RF Systems: US-based manufacturer of solid-state high-power RF amplifiers covering HF through Ku-band for defense EW, RADAR, and communications — a direct competitor to Microwave Amps' AM-series catalog and custom builds.
• Aethercomm: Specialist in high-power, broadband solid-state RF amplifiers and subsystems for military EW, RADAR, and SIGINT — overlapping product frequency and power range with Microwave Amps' wideband GaN and pulsed lines.
• Elite RF: Designs and manufactures solid-state RF power amplifiers and amplifier subsystems for defense, communications, and scientific markets — competitive with Microwave Amps in custom GaN and LDMOS modules.
• RF-Lambda: Broad-line RF/microwave amplifier vendor offering catalog and custom LNAs, medium- and high-power amplifiers from DC–40 GHz — directly comparable to Microwave Amps' AL and AM mid-power families.

Others

• ScandiNova Systems (Nodica Group sister company): Parent group sibling under Nodica Group manufacturing pulsed-power modulators for MedTech, science, and industrial — adjacent (not competitive) to Microwave Amps but a relevant ecosystem peer given the shared ownership and overlapping end customers (e.g., CERN, SLAC).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Microwave Amps