Wayvis announced on the 5th that it had been selected as the contractor for the 'Next-Generation Air Defense Weapon System Radar X-band FEM (Front-end Module) Research and Development Project' worth a total of 6.4 billion won hosted by the Agency for Defense Development.

Through this research and development project, which will be carried out for a total of three years as a defense innovation company 100 technology development support project, Wayvis will develop the FEM core components of a GaN (gallium nitride)-based X-band high-power transceiver module. The goal is to develop GaN MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit), which is the core chip of the next-generation air defense weapon system, by utilizing domestic mass production Fab, while securing a stable domestic supply chain.

GaN MMIC is a component that performs a key function in the multi-function radar transceiver unit of advanced weapon systems. However, due to export regulations, etc., the dependence on overseas countries is high, and securing a stable supply chain has been urgently needed. Through this project, Wayvis is expected to minimize the supply risk of key components and strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic defense industry by utilizing the only mass production Fab of GaN RF semiconductor chips in Korea.

Recently, with the strategic importance of air defense systems being highlighted due to the Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Palestine conflicts, the need for establishing an independent Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system is also increasing domestically. In particular, GaN-based high-power transceiver modules, which are the core technology of missile defense system radars, are only possessed by some advanced countries such as the US, Europe, and Japan. This project is expected to lead to self-reliance in core technologies in the defense industry and secure a stable supply chain.

Wayvis Development Team Leader, Managing Director Byung-Chul Jeon said, “We are delighted to have been selected for this R&D project and to have contributed to the innovation of domestic defense technology.” He continued, “The X-band FEM being developed this time is a key component that can be applied not only to air defense weapon systems but also to various next-generation weapon systems such as aircraft, ships, and guided weapons. We expect that the defense weapon system development and mass production projects in which Wayvis participates will expand in the future.”

Meanwhile, Wayvis succeeded in localizing GaN RF semiconductor chip mass production technology for the first time in Korea, and is the only GaN RF semiconductor IDM in Korea with mass production facilities for all product groups, including chip-package transistor-module. Wayvis is showing rapid growth, achieving sales of KRW 4.7 billion in 2022 and KRW 16.9 billion in 2023.