The Next Frontier in RF: Phased Arrays, GaN-on-SiC and the Race for SWaP-C

Look up: thousands of satellites are streaming broadband from low Earth orbit. Look around: radars that once rotated on masts now steer their beams electronically without moving the antenna, and 5G repeaters are pushing mmWave coverage further than ever. Behind each of these breakthroughs is the same quiet revolution in the RF signal chain, and the same relentless pressure to deliver more performance in less size, weight, power and cost. In this fast-paced session, we pull back the curtain on how today’s most demanding RF systems are built. You’ll discover how beamforming really works, and why a handful of low-cost diodes can now steer a beam that once required an expensive active array. You’ll see why GaN-on-SiC has taken over high-power transmitters while GaAs still rules the quiet world of low-noise receivers, and how engineers keep signals clean in an ever more crowded spectrum. From radar front ends and kilowatt-class avionics transmitters to components that must survive the radiation of space, we’ll follow the signal end to end, finishing with the innovations that are shrinking entire filter banks onto a single part and pushing oscillator phase noise to new lows. Bring your toughest questions for the live Q&A.

Key Takeaways

• How beamforming really works, and which architecture fits your system
• Why a few low-cost diodes can steer a beam: the rise of metamaterial arrays
• Where GaN-on-SiC wins, where GaAs wins, and why it matters for your design
• How to keep signals clean in an increasingly crowded spectrum
• What the shift from rotating radar dishes to AESA arrays means for RF engineers
• How kilowatt-class avionics transmitters are built from GaN-on-SiC transistors
• How to choose parts for space, from COTS to radiation-hardened
• How miniature filter banks and low-phase-noise oscillators are shrinking the signal chain

Presenter

Baljit Chandhoke, Product Manager, RF and Microwave Products, Microchip

Baljit Chandhoke is driving RF innovation in 5G, satellite communications, and aerospace and defense applications. Passionate about next-gen connectivity, he leads teams developing high-performance RF solutions collaborating with customers globally, shaping competitive strategies, driving design wins, and influencing go-to-market approaches. With the rapid evolution of AI-driven RF optimization, beamforming, and software-defined architectures presenting limitless opportunities, Baljit believes in RF semiconductor solutions being essential to critical applications is both a privilege and a motivation to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

He has authored multiple articles in leading industry publications, presented in several conferences, consortiums, YouTube videos, and webinars on RF technologies and trends. Prior to joining Microchip, Baljit worked in leadership positions at GlobalFoundries, Renesas (IDT), ON Semiconductor, Cypress Semiconductor. He has a M.B.A from Arizona State University, M.S. in Telecommunications from University of Colorado Boulder and Bachelors in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from University of Mumbai, India.