RFTech Expands 5G RF Technology into Defense; First Delivery of Counter-Drone Antennas Set for October

[Financial News]  RFTech, a radio-frequency (RF) solutions provider for 5G communications equipment, is expanding its RF technology from the communications sector into defense. The company is developing antennas for counter-drone systems with a major South Korean defense company and will deliver prototypes in October.
RFTech said on the 22nd that it is developing an antenna for an electronic warfare-based counter-drone response system with Company A, a major South Korean defense company. The antenna will be used in equipment that detects signals used by drones and identifies their direction to respond.
The project is significant because it expands the application of RF technology developed for existing 5G communications equipment into defense. RFTech will apply wideband signal processing, interference suppression, direction finding, and radio-wave control technologies to counter-drone equipment.
The commercialization schedule has also taken shape. RFTech plans to deliver prototypes to the customer in October, then expand development from antennas to compact jamming systems following performance verification and follow-up development. Its goal is to broaden its product lineup to include portable drone defense systems.
RFTech has been mass-producing Antenna Filter Unit (AFU) products for 5G Massive MIMO (mMIMO). It commercialized compact RF filters in 2024 and is also pursuing mass production of next-generation 5G AFUs for North America this year.
In next-generation communications, RFTech is jointly developing compact RF filters with a major South Korean communications equipment manufacturer to support candidate 6G frequencies. Its RF-specialized subsidiary, RFTC, is responsible for research and development, while the parent company contributes its mass-production capabilities and ability to serve global customers.
A RFTech official said, "Building on our mass-production experience in 5G, we are expanding the application of our RF technology into areas such as counter-drone systems and 6G. We will bring these efforts to commercialization through joint development, prototype delivery, and customer validation."
Meanwhile, RFTech is also developing hardware-based security technology with major defense companies to counter physical attacks on and the cloning of cryptographic chips. The company aims to secure new growth drivers by diversifying its RF business, previously focused on communications equipment, into counter-drone systems, defense security, and 6G.


[email protected] Kim Kyung-ah Reporter