24 March 2026
Gallium nitride: the material behind high-power electronics and defence radar
Key insights from this briefing
Why is gallium nitride attractive for satellites and space systems?
Gallium nitride combines high power density, high-frequency performance and strong tolerance of radiation and heat. Those characteristics make GaN useful in satellite power electronics and communications systems, where efficiency and reliability matter and maintenance is difficult.
Why does gallium supply concentration matter for GaN technologies?
GaN demand depends on gallium feedstock, while primary gallium refining remains highly concentrated. That creates an upstream vulnerability for radar, communications, AI infrastructure and space systems even when the semiconductor technology itself is mature.
Excerpt from this briefing's Industry Insight
Gallium nitride is emerging as a wide-bandgap successor to silicon in high-power electronics. GaN devices can operate at higher voltages, temperatures and switching frequencies, allowing more efficient power conversion in EV charging, AI data centres and other dense electrical systems. The same properties are valuable in defence radar and electronic warfare, while radiation tolerance supports satellite applications. The strategic vulnerability lies upstream: gallium refining remains highly concentrated, so advanced electronics can depend on a small and geopolitically exposed supply base.
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