Microwave Devices Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Active and Passive), By Frequency (Ku-Band, Ka-Band, S-Band, C-Band, X-Band, L-Band, and Others), By End-use Industry (Telecommunication, Space, Defense, Industrial, Healthcare, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027

The global microwave devices market size was USD 6.12 billion in 2019. The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with these devices witnessing a negative impact on demand across all regions amid the pandemic. Based on our analysis, the global market will exhibit a lower growth of 1.4% in 2020 as compared to the average year-on-year growth during 2016-2019. The market is projected to grow from USD 6.21 billion in 2020 to USD 9.00 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of 5.45% in the 2020-2027 period. The rise in CAGR is attributable to this market’s demand and growth, returning to pre-pandemic levels once the pandemic is over.

Microwave devices are a crucial building block of microwave systems that operate in several frequency ranges based on applications. They offer benefits such as high rate data transmission, secured communication, and low power consumption. Thus, these devices are largely used in multiple applications such as satellite communication and navigation, radar, electronic warfare, medical, military, and commercial communication, among others.

On 26^th March 2020, the U.S. Space Force launched Alliance Atlas 5 rocket that carried military communications satellites worth USD 1.20 billion. These satellites are equipped with devices operating on a shorter wavelength compared to radio waves. Microwaves can directly pass through the ionosphere atmospheric layer, whereas radio waves are reflected by the ionosphere. In addition to this, technologically advanced microwave antennas assist in the transmission and reception of data through all atmospheric orbits.

Similarly, in August 2020, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. received permission from the Federal Communications Commission to launch 12,000 satellites in low earth orbit. The growing number of satellite launches are contributing towards the market size during the forecast period.

Disruption in Supply Chain Management of Microwave Devices amid COVID-19 to Restrain Growth

The COVID-19 outbreak has created a large impact on the market owing to the canceled satellite launches and disruption in the supply chain across key regions. The major companies and space agencies have canceled several space launches. This has impacted the scheduled space launches and has hampered the space industry ecosystem. The cancellation of space launches has further disrupted the supply chain management of companies. Due to the pandemic, governments of various countries have limited the number of employees in space and wireless devices manufacturing companies to minimize the spread of coronavirus.

Several companies have been driven to bankruptcy owing to the pandemic situation. For example, OneWeb Satellite Constellation, a leading satellite manufacturer and connectivity provider planned to put up 650 satellites by the end of 2020. But, in November 2020 the company canceled its plan as it went bankrupt and changed ownership. Before bankruptcy, the company had successfully deployed 74 satellites equipped with these devices in the earth’s orbit. Therefore, the market is experiencing uncertainty in demand owing to delay in satellite launches.

LATEST TRENDS

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Increasing Adoption of Gallium Nitride (GaN) Material to Propel Market Growth

Different types of materials such as Silicon (Si), Gallium Nitride (GaN), Silicon Carbide (SIC), and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), among others play an important role in the development of microwave devices. The performance of such devices depends on the properties of the material used during device manufacturing.

The demand for GaN semiconductor material is increasing to fabricate microwave devices. This is due to GaN being a high-frequency semiconductor compound material having a wide bandgap of 3.4 eV, high power density, high thermal conductivity, and high voltage capability. These properties of GaN enable the development of miniaturized microwave devices that handle higher power levels than GaAs material. This factor is boosting the fabrication of these devices using GaN semiconductor material.

DRIVING FACTORS

Increasing Demand for Enhanced Communications Services to Aid Growth

Microwave devices provide point to point communication through microwave links, which helps to deliver maximum information quickly with high security to the end-user. Thus, the army, space research companies such as NASA, and several other national security organizations utilize microwave links to transfer confidential information within the organizations. Moreover, it offers high communication security that is useful for several military communication applications.

The increasing focus on military satellite launch to expand the military communication network is further expanding the market growth in developed and developing countries. For example, the Advanced Extremely High Frequency is a communication satellite series operated by the U.S. Space Force. This communication satellite is used to transmit secure information with the help of microwave devices for air, land, and naval platforms.

In March 2020, the U.S. Space Force launched the AEHF-6 (USA-298) satellite to provide military services. AEHF-6 (USA-298) is the 6^th satellite from the Advanced Extremely High-Frequency series. Thus, the use of these devices for secured communication is propelling the microwave devices market growth.

Rising Adoption in Healthcare Industry to Augment Growth

The growing research and development activities in the healthcare industry are expected to surge the adoption of microwave technology. Currently, microwave technology is widely used in medical imaging that is known as microwave tomography. Ultra wide band microwave imaging is a well-known method for the detection of cancer, based on the large contrast in electrical parameters between malignant tumor tissue and the surrounding normal body tissue.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

High Risk of Electromagnetic Jamming to Impede Market Growth

The growing risk of electromagnetic jamming due to changing war nature is expected to restrain the market growth. Electromagnetic jamming is deliberate radiation or reflection of electromagnetic energy to prevent effective use of the opponent’s electromagnetic spectrum.

Microwave communication cannot transit through solid material, hence, it is limited to line of sight mode only, and the high installation cost of systems is expected to affect the market growth.

SEGMENTATION

By Type Analysis

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Active to Hold the Significant Market Share

Based on type, the market is divided into active and passive microwave devices.

The active type includes transistors, amplifiers, oscillators, tubes, diodes, and integrated circuits, among others. The segment registered a higher market share in 2019. It is likely to remain the largest segment during the forecast period owing to the growing development of modern active microwave systems for various industrial applications such as telecommunication, space, defense, industrial, and healthcare, among others. Besides, the passive segment displays moderate growth during the forecast period. Active devices are generally embedded in a passive matching circuit as active microwave devices require external sources to drive them and perform an operation. The active component cannot be operated without the passive component.

By Frequency Analysis

Increasing Use of Ka-Band to Transmit Information at High Speed to Drive Segment Growth

Based on frequency, the market is divided into Ku-Band, Ka-Band, S-Band, C-Band, X-Band, L-Band, and others.

The Ku-band segment held the dominating share in the base year. This large share is attributed to the wide use of Ku-band for military and commercial applications around the world.

The Ka-band segment is expected to experience rapid growth during the forecast period. The Ka-band utilizes a 26.5-40GHz range, which is the high frequencies range among other bands. The higher the frequency, the more bandwidth is available, and the higher the bandwidth, the more data can be transferred. Thus, the Ka-band uses a larger frequency range and thus offers high-speed transmission of information as compared to other band frequencies.

The S-Band, C-Band, X-Band, and L-Band are anticipated to display significant market share during the forecast period due to the increasing use of these bands for several applications such as mobile phones, Bluetooth, GPS, radio communication, military telemetry among others.

By End-use Industry Analysis

Increasing Number of Communication Satellites to Boost Telecommunications Segment Growth

In terms of end-use industry, the market is segmented into telecommunication, space, defense, industrial, healthcare, and others.

The telecommunication segment is estimated to hold the largest share in 2019. This is attributable to the increasing use of microwave antennas to relay information from one end to another. Also, the device offers point-to-point communication that enhances reliability and data security.

The space segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. An increase in the number of communication satellites is boosting the market growth. For instance, in August 2019, Communications & Power Industries LLC (CPI) announced the acquisition of the satellite antenna systems business of General Dynamics Corporation.

The defense segment is likely to experience significant growth in the market during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the rising need to enhance the security of military communication. Microwave links offer secure data transmission. Thereby, the adoption of these devices for military application has increased in the last few years.

The healthcare segment is expected to showcase considerable growth due to the large adoption of microwave technology for the detection of cancer cells, cosmetic treatments, gynecology, dental treatments, and others.

Microwave devices are used for the treatment of biohazardous waste and in thermal food processing plants across several industries. This is likely to boost the industrial segment growth.  

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

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In terms of geography, the global microwave devices market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World.

The market size in North America stood at USD 2.48 billion in 2019 and is expected to dominate the market during the foreseeable years. This dominance is owing to the growing focus on the development of the space and defense industry in the region. The U.S. government spends a high amount on space research and development. In addition to this, the presence of key companies in the U.S. such as L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Qorvo Inc., and Analog Devices Inc., among others is further expected to drive the market growth

The market in Europe is expected to hold the second-largest share owing to the large focus on the development of the healthcare industry in European countries such as the U.K., Germany, Sweden, and Denmark.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to exhibit the fastest growth in the market during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the increasing government spending for the modernization of military weapons systems. Also, the Chinese and Indian governments have increased their focus on the development of advanced military radar systems to strengthen military capabilities. Additionally, the growing procurement of advanced equipment for the 5G technology in China and India is propelling the market growth in Asia Pacific.

The market in the Rest of the World is likely to showcase moderate growth during the forecast period. The significant development in the telecommunication industry in Brazil and the UAE are boosting the market growth.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Market Players to Focus on Providing Cost-Efficient and Pocket-Sized Products

The market is highly fragmented with the presence of various key players such as Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Thales Group, Communications & Power Industries LLC, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., and Qorvo Inc. among others. These players are focusing on the development of cost-efficient and small-sized microwave devices for space, communication, commercial, and defense industry application. Besides, with R&D investment activities, strategic acquisitions, and partnerships, the companies are focused on growing their capabilities and sustaining their position in the market. For instance, in November 2020, Qorvo Inc. introduced its newly designed and developed CMD328K3, the best-in-class, small-sized low noise amplifier. This small-sized amplifier is mainly designed for applications such as communication systems, phased array radar, and electronic warfare systems.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Analog Devices Inc. (The U.S.)


• Communications & Power Industries LLC (CPI) (The U.S.)


• General Dynamics Corporation (The U.S.)


• Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (The U.S.)


• L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (The U.S.)


• MACOM Technology Solutions Inc. (The U.S.)


• Microsemi Corporation (The U.S)


• Microwave Technology, Inc. (The U.K.)


• Qorvo Inc. (The U.S.)


• Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (The U.S.)


• Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (The U.S.)


• Thales Group (France)


• TMD Technologies Ltd (The U.K.)


• Toshiba Corporation (Japan)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• June 2020 – Richardson Electronics, Ltd. announced that the company signed a new distribution agreement with Guangdong DaPu Telecom Technology Co., LTD. Under this agreement, the companies were committed to providing high-quality and reliable products into various applications including RF and microwave communications, wired and wireless transmission, industrial, radar, and test equipment.


• March 2020 – Teledyne Technologies Incorporated has been awarded a USD 34.9 million worth contract from the U.S. Navy for repair and maintenance of traveling wave tubes to enhance capabilities of combat systems.

REPORT COVERAGE

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The microwave devices market research report provides a detailed analysis of the market. It encompasses key aspects such as R&D capabilities and optimization of the manufacturing process. Besides this, the report offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the factors mentioned above, the report focuses on several factors that have contributed to the growth of the advanced market over recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation