There is a steady increase globally in requirements for new defense systems embodying RF modules. Prominent systems examples include: C4ISR (BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon), Movement Intelligence (MI), the next-generation jammer (NGJ), Missile-2 production and Battlefield Command Systems. Almost all new defense systems demand RF technology: microwave (0.5 to 18 GHz) or mmWave (18 GHz through W-Band). Major vertically integrated OEMs supplying RF modules include Analog Devices, L3 Harris (recent merger), Leonardo, MACOM, NXP, Qorvo, Teledyne and Thales.

A new industry report from Engalco Research, “Global Markets for Connectorized Microwave & mmWave Modules into Defense Systems,” includes profiles of most demand-side corporations as well as of well over 100 supply-side companies. Products for which EW and radar markets are analysed in detail include a wide range of types of amplifiers, oscillators, frequency converters, frequency synthesizers and transceivers. Total addressable market (TAM) data is provided on an annual basis from 2017 to forecast year 2024. All data within this report is “west-friendly” based, i.e., countries like China, Russia and North Korea are excluded.

Terry Edwards, principal analyst at Engalco Research, said, "This report separates products and applications into microwave and mmWave. Whilst microwave products always take the lion’s share of all markets those for mmWave products are growing at a somewhat faster rate. This report indicates that the overall global TAM amounted to almost US$1.1 billion in 2017 and will exceed US$1.2 billion in 2024.”

The pie chart indicates the segmentation of typical market data for a selection of types of microwave modules in year 2018. In this instance TAM values range from high US$10 million through to well over US$100 million.