MACOM Technology Solutions Inc. (MACOM), a leading provider of semiconductor products, has been selected to lead a technology development project focused on the design of gallium nitride on silicon carbide (GaN-on-SiC) semiconductors for radio frequency (RF) and microwave applications. Funded by the CHIPS and Science Act of the U.S. government through the Department of Defense (DoD), the project aims to establish advanced manufacturing processes for GaN-based materials and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) that operate at high voltages and in millimeter wave (mmW) frequencies.
This project marks a milestone in MACOM’s efforts to strengthen domestic production of next-generation RF and microwave power technologies, which are essential for military applications such as radar and detection systems, as well as for the future implementation of next-generation telecommunications networks. “Our strategy is to increase domestic production of advanced RF and microwave power technologies to support military radar and detection applications, in addition to enabling future telecommunications networks,” stated Stephen G. Daly, President and CEO of MACOM.
Collaboration with Academic and Military Institutions
To advance this initiative, MACOM will collaborate with North Carolina State University, Adroit Materials, and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) under the CLAWS (Commercial Leap-Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors) Microelectronics Hub. The project has secured an initial funding of $3.4 million for the first year, representing an expansion of MACOM’s GaN technology development activities that had already been established with the DoD in recent years.
Among these previous collaborations, a noteworthy research and development agreement was signed in 2021 with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), through which MACOM successfully transferred the 0.14-micron GaN-on-SiC MMIC process from AFRL to its trusted foundry located in Massachusetts. Additionally, in 2023, MACOM received a $4 million contract to develop GaN technologies for millimeter wave applications, as well as a DARPA award worth up to $10.1 million for improving thermal management in high-power applications.
MACOM and Its Leadership in GaN Technology
With a broad product portfolio encompassing RF, microwave, analog and mixed signals, and optical semiconductors, MACOM has established itself as a prominent player in the semiconductor industry. The company, which operates facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia, has achieved international certifications such as the automotive standard IATF16949, ISO9001 quality management standard, and ISO14001 environmental management standard. With these credentials, MACOM positions itself as a strategic partner in developing cutting-edge technological solutions that strengthen both the defense sector and communications and data centers.
This new project reaffirms MACOM’s commitment to continue innovating and contributing to the development of critical technologies for national security and the advancement of telecommunications, in a context where the United States seeks to reinforce its leadership in the semiconductor field.