RF GaN: Geopolitics fuel sustained growth

According to Yole Group’s latest report on the RF GaN market, GaN devices play a critical role in high-power RF signal generation and amplification, with growing adoption across telecom infrastructure, defense, and satellite communications. The market is expected to reach $2.4 billion by 2031, growing at a 11% CAGR between 2025 and 2031, up from about $1.3 billion in 2025. 

After a downturn starting in 2023 due to weaker demand for telecom infrastructure, the market is now rebounding, driven by rising defense spending and supported by renewed momentum in satcom applications.

Ahmad Abbas, Technology & Market Analyst, Compound Semiconductor at Yole Group, said that in today’s geopolitical climate, it is defense demand in particular that is accelerating RF GaN adoption, positioning the sector as the market’s primary growth engine. 

Yole Group’s report, RF GaN market, analyzes market dynamics in the context of 5G network evolution, growing defense requirements, and long-term preparation for 6G systems. As telecom architectures shift toward active antenna systems and defense platforms continue to transition to solid-state RF solutions, GaN is gaining share over legacy technologies. GaN-on-SiC remains the dominant platform, while GaN-on-Si is being increasingly adopted in specific applications.

Defense and aerospace represent the second major pillar of the RF GaN market, characterized by high performance requirements, long qualification cycles, and stable demand. In parallel, satellite communications increasingly rely on GaN for high-power uplinks in ground gateways and satellite terminals as operating frequencies expand from K/Ka up to E/W band applications.

Hassan Saleh, Technology & Market Analyst, Radio Frequency at Yole Group, added that GaN RF is now a core technology in defense, enabling higher-performance AESA radar, compact electronic warfare systems, and high-power military satellite communications. 

The RF GaN defense market, valued at US$592 million in 2025, is expected to reach US$1 billion by 2031, growing at a 10% CAGR. Growth is driven by the increasing deployment of GaN-based solid-state RF technologies across radar, EW , and military satellite communications, with the United States remaining the leading adopter.

In radar systems, GaN RF technology has become a core enabler of AESA architecture operating across the S- to X-bands. Airborne radar represents the largest application segment, supported by the transition from TWT technologies to GaN-based transmit/receive (T/R) modules that deliver higher output power, improved resolution, reduced weight, and greater scalability.

Adoption of GaN has also increased significantly in ground-based radar systems, while naval radar modernization is progressing more gradually as innovation efforts focus on sensor integration and multifunction apertures.

Beyond radar, electronic warfare is among the fastest-growing RF GaN segments, as wideband, high-efficiency GaN power amplifiers enable compact jamming systems for counter-UAS applications, next-generation tactical radios, and high-data-rate military communications.

Key takeaways
* RF GaN is on a strong growth trajectory. The market is expected to reach ~$2.4 billion by 2031.
* Defense is the main growth engine, heading toward ~$1 billion in RF GaN revenues by 2031.
* The RF GaN value chain is highly compartmentalized, with largely separate U.S., European, and Chinese ecosystems.
* Technology focus: GaN-on-SiC remains the dominant platform across high-power telecom and defense systems.