everything RF recently interviewed Andrey Kishchinsky, the R&D Director at Microwave Systems JSC. Microwave Systems JSC is based in Moscow, Russia and develops various types of broadband high-power microwave amplifiers including powerful pulse amplifiers and transceiver modules.
Q. Can you give us a brief history of Microwave Systems? When was the company founded and what was the objective behind it?
Andrey Kishchinsky: Microwave Systems JSC was founded by a small group of experienced specialists in the field of electronics in 2004. I worked as chief designer of solid-state broadband microwave power amplifiers for Central State Research Radiotechnical Institute (Moscow, Russia) and I decided to start my business based on my knowledge and experience.
The main competence of our company is to design and supply our clients with highly reliable broad-band power amplifiers, T/R modules and MMICs based on modern GaN/GaAs technologies. As a result, for 15 years we have developed over 120 types of microwave and RF products and got more than 185 clients. Our goal is to be the best in complex projects.
Q. What products does Microwave Systems develop?
Andrey Kishchinsky: The most popular products are miniature custom-specified and standard broadband power amplifiers in the frequency range from 0.5 to 22 GHz, receiving and transmitting modules, low-noise amplifiers, pulse signal amplifiers, multifunctional modules for point-to-point communication systems. Today, we also develop and sell MMICs, transistors, frequency synthesizers, and other devices. Click here to see their Amplifier products.
Q. What market segments do you cater to? Which is the largest segment for you?
Andrey Kishchinsky: We are experienced in the RF field for numerous applications including communications, commercial radars, point-to-point radio, EMI/EMC and various scientific projects.
Q. Geographically, where are your customers located? Do you expect this to change in the years to come?
Andrey Kishchinsky: Most of our customers are located in the Russian Federation. We have just started to promote our devices and design services to the international market. Some of our items are exported to international markets as part of a client’s devices. We also have representatives in Europe. We are currently looking for distributors and customers in Europe and Asia and will be glad to get inquiries for custom designed and standard products.
Q. What differentiates Microwave Systems from other RF/Microwave amplifier manufacturers?
Andrey Kishchinsky: We design miniaturized high reliable broadband amplifiers which have great power output combined with small weight and hermetically sealed packages. Our solid-state power amplifiers are available with a number of features that include: digital phase-stable gain control, output power detector, temperature detector, thermocompensated gain, single-polarity supply, input power protection, low gain ripple. We also have experience in the field of microwave module integration with radio subsystems and systems, and we can build a vertical design from MMIC to the complete system.
Q. What transistor technologies do you use when developing your amplifiers? How do you decide which technology to use when you are making an amplifier?
Andrey Kishchinsky: Our designs are based on GaAs pHEMT and GaN HEMT technologies. We constantly monitor the achievements of both fundamental science and manufacturing enterprises, conduct tests of new solutions in the field of microwave transistors and ICs, consult with manufacturers as their potential customer who understands what operational parameters the device should have. We design some of the transistors and MMICs ourselves and produce them on pure-play foundries. We use microwave components from both Russian and international companies. In some projects we cooperate with WIN Semiconductor, UMS, Qorvo, Wolfspeed and Others.
Q. Can you tell us about some interesting products that you have developed?
Andrey Kishchinsky: One of our latest solid-state amplifiers is the MS010620. Model MS010620 is a multi-octave high power amplifier operating from 1 to 6 GHz range with 35 Watts of typical output power. It is used to amplify and control the amplitude of continuous, pulse and modulated signals. MS010620 uses advanced GaN microwave device technology and provides long term reliability and high ruggedness. It is available in a hermetically sealed package that provides reliable operation in various harsh environments. Patented balanced configuration guarantees a low output VSWR.
Another interesting product is MC120-2, a new MMIC amplifier. Model MC120-2 is a multi-octave balanced GaAs MMIC power amplifier operating from 5 to 18 GHz with a linear output power of 1 Watt and 10 dB of flat small signal gain. The amplifier has a 25-30% PAE and a low VSWR. It can easy integrated into multistage amplifier modules. The MC120-2 is available in an SMD ceramic hermetically sealed package or as a die.
Click here to learn more about Microwave Systems JSC on everything RF.
