While microwave and millimeter-wave high-power vacuum electron devices (VED) remain "below the radar" of many industry observers, the total available market (TAM) for this segment is over $1 B. The size of this market continues to surprise everyone and its longevity and firm resistance to RF power semiconductor encroachment is just as surprising. Essentially, this is now a stable industry after several rounds of consolidation in recent years. There is potential for some further consolidation, but there are no signs of that happening yet.
One new RF semiconductor technology—gallium nitride (GaN)—may change the landscape, but has not yet done so to any meaningful degree. While it is not yet monopolizing the microwave RF power industry, GaN is advancing steadily and is a technology that should be closely watched.
To learn more about the microwave tube (valve) market and how it may affect business models now and in the future, please visit ABI Research's new study "Microwave and Millimeter-Wave High-power Vacuum Electron Devices: Successfully Holding Off the Gallium Nitride Threat," which examines the microwave and millimeter-wave high power vacuum electron device market and assesses how gallium nitride (GaN) devices could affect that business. It will be of interest to organizations involved in defense electronic, energy and scientific research, and spacecraft electronics, as well as VED manufacturers, RF power semiconductor users and manufacturers, and government.