Northrop Grumman develops new GaN chip for secure W-band links and next-generation wireless connectivity - Defence Industry Europe

Northrop Grumman has developed a new gallium nitride (GaN) chip aimed at enhancing performance in both military and commercial radio frequency applications. The chip leverages the W-band spectrum to e... Read original →

Northrop Grumman’s rapid deployment of a W-band GaN chip compresses RF front-end size and power draw while triggering cascading effects: upstream substrate suppliers must meet stricter thermal and purity specs, while downstream radar and satcom systems require antenna redesigns for millimeter-wave compatibility. The Army-backed DREAMS hub signals a shift toward secure, low-volume manufacturing, raising compliance overhead and forcing supply chain re-engineering. Competitors like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin may accelerate in-house GaN integration, while Qualcomm or Nokia could leverage defense-derived insights for 6G channel modeling. Within 18 months, W-band components will begin spilling into civilian testbeds—but ITAR controls and export restrictions will cement U.S.-EU dominance in high-frequency semiconductors, limiting global access.