By Feifei Deng · Reviewed 8 October 2026
The short answer: Qorvo announced a new C-band radar front-end set built around the QPB1055 switched BAW filter bank, the QPA2311 50 W-class GaN power amplifier and the QPA0018 200 W-class GaN power amplifier. Radar engineers and buyers can begin evaluation now, but they should not treat the announcement as proof of production availability. Qorvo says samples and evaluation kits are available; the individual product pages remain in Preview or contact-sales mode and do not publish target-region ATP, MOQ, price or standard lead time. Open three parallel gates now: RFQ, current-data verification and system-level engineering review.
What changed on 2 October 2026
At European Microwave Week in London, Qorvo introduced a C-band radar solution intended to address receive-side frequency agility and transmit-side power efficiency. The manufacturer announcement dated 2 October 2026 names all three exact MPNs and says samples and evaluation kits are available now. That is useful evidence that the engineering-access window is open. It is not the same as a published production schedule or distributor stock position.
The receive-side device, QPB1055, combines two switches, seven BAW filters and a bypass path. Its product page lists contiguous 5.2–5.9 GHz coverage and a 6.00 × 6.00 × 0.79 mm surface-mount package. Qorvo positions it as a way to reduce custom filter design work, but its page is marked Preview and directs users to request a sample or contact sales.
The transmit choices cover different power and mechanical envelopes. QPA2311 operates across 5.3–5.9 GHz in a 6.0 × 6.0 × 0.85 mm overmolded QFN. QPA0018 covers 5.2–5.9 GHz in an 8 × 9 mm, 60-pin plastic overmolded QFN. These are not interchangeable line items. Their power class, bias conditions, footprint, thermal path and intended integration work are materially different.
Keep the three BOM lines and evidence packages distinct
For sourcing, create separate RFQ records for QPB1055, QPA2311 and QPA0018. Each request should ask for the exact orderable identity, product status, manufacturing location, date-code policy, packaging, MOQ and order multiple, target-region allocatable quantity, standard lead time, quoted quantity, currency, Incoterm and quotation validity. A generic “C-band Qorvo solution” request is too broad to support a production commitment.
For engineering, the split is equally important. QPB1055 belongs in the receive-path review: obtain the current datasheet revision, S-parameters, insertion-loss limits, channel definition, switching behavior, control requirements and recommended land pattern. QPA2311 and QPA0018 belong in separate transmit-path reviews: confirm bias and pulse conditions, load-pull or reference-design evidence, thermal resistance, grounding, stability, harmonic behavior and the safe operating envelope for the intended duty cycle.
Qorvo's announcement describes QPA2311 as footprint-compatible with TGA2307-SM. Treat that statement as a manufacturer-named candidate path that requires validation, not as automatic substitution approval. Pin mapping, bias, RF performance, thermal behavior, land pattern, assembly profile and program qualification must all be checked against the exact released documents before any AVL or BOM change.
Resolve QPA0018's published-value conflict before design freeze
The live QPA0018 product page currently exposes two different headline parameter sets. Its opening description states 52 dBm saturated output power, 28 dB large-signal gain and 58% power-added efficiency. Lower on the same page, the key-feature and parameter fields show 54 dBm Psat and 52% PAE. The launch release uses a third, broader description: a 200 W two-stage MMIC with more than 20 dB gain and more than 50% efficiency across the band.
This does not prove a device problem; it proves a document-control problem for anyone trying to freeze requirements from a marketing page. Do not select whichever figure best fits the power budget. Ask Qorvo to identify the governing datasheet revision, test conditions and guaranteed versus typical values. Store that written answer with the engineering-change record and make the accepted revision part of the quotation package.
QPA2311 also illustrates why test conditions matter. Its product page shows 47 dBm, 50% PAE and 19 dB power gain under a listed pulsed bias condition, while the announcement describes more than 55% PAE across 5–6 GHz. These statements may reflect different conditions or document layers. They should be reconciled against the current datasheet before thermal, DC-power or array-level conclusions are approved.
Procurement and engineering action plan
- Send three exact-MPN RFQs. Require written ATP for the destination region and program, not a global sample statement. Ask for MOQ, multiples, packaging, lead time, price break, quotation validity and production-status evidence.
- Request controlled technical files. For QPB1055, obtain the latest datasheet and S-parameters. For both PAs, obtain the governing datasheet, reference layout, thermal guidance, S-parameters and evaluation-board documentation.
- Reconcile the numbers before simulation sign-off. Record page capture dates and ask the manufacturer which QPA0018 Psat/PAE values govern the intended operating point.
- Separate samples from the production plan. Samples and evaluation kits support bench work. They do not establish volume allocation, lifecycle commitment, lot traceability or delivery dates.
- Validate the complete RF chain. Confirm insertion loss, gain, stability, heat flow, control timing, calibration, EMC behavior and applicable export or end-use requirements at system level.
If you need an updated quotation tied to a real build, send the exact BOM, target quantities, delivery region, required date and PCBA or engineering review context through our component sourcing contact page. We can structure the RFQ around the exact MPN and evidence gaps rather than treating the three devices as a single catalog family.
Facts, judgment and recommendations: the boundary
| Type | What this article says | Decision use |
|---|---|---|
| Verified fact | Qorvo published the announcement on 2 October 2026; the three exact product pages identify frequency range, function and package information; the release says samples and evaluation kits are available. | Open evaluation and RFQ work. |
| Verified absence | The reviewed manufacturer pages do not publish target-region ATP, MOQ, price or standard lead time. | Do not promise a production date or price from public pages. |
| Engineering judgment | Separate receive and transmit qualification records reduce the risk of carrying marketing-level assumptions into a frozen design. | Organize the review and change-control package. |
| Recommendation | Obtain the governing technical revision and a written quotation before BOM release. | Release only after evidence aligns. |
Observation boundary: this review is a current-date snapshot of the cited Qorvo pages. It does not claim global inventory, a shortage, a price trend or regional availability. Distributor stock from one region cannot be added to another region's ATP, and a sample request button cannot be converted into a production-supply claim.
FAQ
Are QPB1055, QPA2311 and QPA0018 in production stock?
The reviewed public pages do not prove production stock. Qorvo says samples and evaluation kits are available, while the product pages use Preview, sample-request or contact-sales paths. Ask for written target-region ATP and production status.
Can QPA2311 replace TGA2307-SM without testing?
No. Qorvo describes footprint compatibility, but any use as a candidate replacement requires validation of pins, bias, RF performance, thermal behavior, assembly and program qualification.
Which QPA0018 Psat and PAE figures should engineers use?
Do not choose between the conflicting page values without confirmation. Request the governing datasheet revision, test conditions and written manufacturer clarification before design freeze.
Does a sample request establish lead time or MOQ?
No. A sample path supports evaluation only. MOQ, order multiples, production lead time, allocatable quantity and price must come from a written quotation for the exact MPN and destination region.
What should a useful RFQ include?
Include the exact MPN, target quantity, annual usage, destination, required date, packaging, date-code and traceability needs, quotation currency and validity, plus any export, end-use or program restrictions.
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