RF GaN (Gallium Nitride) revenues will surpass $1 billion by the end of 2022, Strategy Analytics said in its latest research report.

The rollout of commercial wireless infrastructure coupled with demand from military radar, electronic warfare and communications applications will be the primary drivers for growth in the global RF GaN market.

RF GaN market revenue grew over 38 percent in 2017 due to adoption across a range of RF applications.

RF GaN demand from the military sector grew by 72 percent year-on-year in 2017, and this will grow at a CAAGR (compound annual average growth rate) of 22 percent through 2022, the report said.

The military radar segment will remain the largest user of GaN devices for the defense sector. Substantial production activity in AESA radars for land-based and naval systems in particular is driving increasing demand for RF GaN, as many systems previously in development move to production.

Wireless base stations are the single largest revenue segment for RF GaN, with increasing penetration translating to growth of more than 20 percent.

The 5G base station deployment will become a primary commercial growth driver for RF GaN. 5G deployment will drive opportunities for GaN on multiple fronts, with demand coming from both fixed and mobile applications, operating below 6 GHz, as well as in Ka-band and higher millimeter wave frequency bands.

Qorvo, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Sumitomo Electric, among others are the leading players in RF GaN market.