News: Microelectronics
11 June 2026
Northrop Grumman develops market-ready GaN chip for W-band RF in under six months
US-based aerospace & defense technology company Northrop Grumman Corp has fabricated a new gallium nitride (GaN) chip that sets what is claimed to be a new performance standard for military and commercial use.
Developed and market-ready in under six months, the new chip fully leverages the W-band spectrum and enables military radar systems to send secure data wirelessly and quickly through satellites, while also supporting the next generation of commercial 5G/6G connectivity.
Picture: Northrop Grumman’s high-frequency GaN microwave chip. (Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman.)
Manufactured at Northrop Grumman’s semiconductor facility in Redondo Beach, California, the chip was developed quickly through a project with the Microelectronics Commons California DREAMS hub, where Northrop Grumman is a leading partner. This program is funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)) as part of a US industry–government–academia partnership.
Northrop Grumman opens up Microelectronics Center access to external aerospace & defense firms
