Integration of high-performance V-band GAN MMIC HPA for the QVlift project [International Communications Satellite Systems Conference]

In the framework of the Horizon 2020 project QVLIFT, funded by the European Commission, a V-band high power amplifier based on gallium nitride (GaN) monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC) technology was designed and developed. Design manufacturing and on-wafer pulsed measurements of two runs of MMIC fabrication were performed and the best chipsets demonstrated peak output power of about 5 W in pulsed mode. Waveguide modules were integrated and tested and are able to provide up to 2 W at 48 GHz in continuous wave.