Qorvo QPA0015 13.75–14.5GHz 8W Ku-Band GaN Power Amplifier
Qorvo QPA0015 Ku-Band GaN Power Amplifier
The QPA0015 from Qorvo is a packaged Ku-band GaN MMIC power amplifier designed for the 13.75–14.5GHz SATCOM band. It provides approximately 3W linear output power and up to 8W output power, making it suitable for satellite communication terminals, radar and microwave datalinks.
The amplifier is fabricated using Qorvo’s production 0.15µm QGaN15 GaN-on-SiC process and is currently listed as a production device.
QPA0015 Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
| Mfr. Part # | QPA0015 |
| Manufacturer | Qorvo |
| Product Type | Ku-Band GaN MMIC Power Amplifier |
| Nominal Frequency Range | 13.75–14.5GHz |
| Extended Frequency Range | 12.75–15.35GHz |
| Linear Output Power | 35dBm / approximately 3W |
| Output Power | 39dBm / approximately 8W |
| Small-Signal Gain | 35dB |
| Power-Added Efficiency | 32% |
| IM3 | −25dBc at 35dBm total output |
| Drain Voltage | 24V |
| Quiescent Drain Current | 195mA |
| Typical Gate Voltage | −2.3V |
| RF Impedance | 50Ω |
| Semiconductor Process | 0.15µm QGaN15 GaN-on-SiC |
| Package/Case | Laminate SMT / 13-SMD |
| Package Size | Approximately 7.5 × 5.0 × 2.45mm |
Applications
The QPA0015 is intended for:
Ku-band satellite communication terminals
SATCOM uplink transmitters
Mobile and fixed satellite ground equipment
Commercial and military radar
Microwave datalinks
Ku-band communication transmitters
The RF input and output are internally matched to 50Ω. DC-grounded RF ports and integrated blocking capacitors help reduce the number of external RF components required.
Related Ku-Band Amplifiers
For systems requiring higher output power in the same nominal frequency band:
| Model | Linear Output Power | Maximum Output Power | Typical Positioning |
| QPA0015 | Approximately 3W | Approximately 8W | Compact, lower-power SATCOM transmitters |
| QPA0016 | Approximately 5W | Approximately 15W | Medium-power SATCOM terminals |
| QPA1314 | Approximately 20W | Approximately 40W | High-power SATCOM and datalink systems |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the QPA0015 an 8W linear amplifier?
No. The QPA0015 provides approximately 3W linear output power. Its 8W rating refers to the higher output-power operating condition.
Is the QPA0015 suitable for Ku-band SATCOM uplinks?
Yes. Its nominal 13.75–14.5GHz operating range directly covers a commonly used Ku-band satellite uplink frequency range.
Can the QPA0015 operate outside 13.75–14.5GHz?
Qorvo specifies an extended operating range of 12.75–15.35GHz. Performance outside the nominal SATCOM band should be verified using the datasheet curves and the final application circuit.
When should QPA0016 be selected instead of QPA0015?
The QPA0016 is suitable when the system requires approximately 5W linear output or up to 15W maximum output while retaining a compact Ku-band SMT amplifier format.
Is a QPA0015 evaluation board available?
Yes. The QPA0015EVB can be used to evaluate RF performance and support prototype development.
