Skolkovo Resident Launches Next-Generation Microwave Signal Generator
The new instrument is designed to provide developers of radio-frequency and microwave electronics with a domestically produced alternative for testing next-generation communications, navigation, and radar equipment.
Over the past several years, Russia has made substantial progress in replacing imported technologies, including the development of a domestic component ecosystem for the telecommunications industry. Yet engineering expertise alone is not enough. Designing advanced radio systems also requires precision test equipment capable of validating performance against demanding technical specifications.
On Par With the World’s Leading Instruments
Mig Trading, a Saratov-based Skolkovo resident, has begun production of its new MBG100A microwave signal generator. The instrument is intended for engineers developing communications, navigation, and radar systems, providing a high-performance testing platform manufactured entirely in Russia.
“Our engineering team completed one of the most technically challenging integrated projects, covering the development, certification, and production launch of the MBG100A microwave signal generator,” the developers said. “It is a precision instrument whose specifications match those of the world’s leading imported products from globally recognized manufacturers.”
More Than Reverse Engineering
Microwave signal generators play a critical role in developing radio-electronic equipment. They reproduce the frequency and amplitude characteristics required to evaluate the performance of new devices during development and testing. For many years, these functions depended largely on imported equipment. The MBG100A gives companies operating in strategically important industries a new domestically developed alternative at a time when access to foreign technologies has become more limited.
The new generator operates across frequencies of up to 40GHz. According to its developers, the project goes well beyond reproducing existing products already available on the market. During the development of the MBG100A, Mig Trading incorporated a range of proprietary high-technology innovations that have been protected through patents.
Certification Complete
The company has completed certification of the MBG100A and confirmed its status as a domestically manufactured industrial product by obtaining an ST-1 certificate. Certification testing has also been completed for an updated version of the generator, which has now been entered into Russia’s State Register of Measuring Instruments, company representatives said.
Support for manufacturers developing microwave technologies remains a strategic priority in Russia. Last autumn, Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade signed a cooperation agreement with the Consortium of Microwave Technology Developers and Manufacturers. The agreement is intended to strengthen collaboration across the sector, including the exchange of engineering expertise and information about new developments.
“Cooperation with the Consortium is important for developing the market and supporting manufacturers of microwave technologies,” Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Vasily Shpak said last year. “Through this agreement, we will exchange expertise and establish organizational mechanisms that will increase localization and strengthen the industry’s technological independence. This is a long-term effort that requires both time and coordinated participation across the market.”
Building for the Next Generation
Russia is also investing in fundamentally new microwave technologies. Researchers see significant potential in microwave photonics, a field that combines integrated photonics with microwave engineering to create more compact and higher-performance systems. Russian researchers have already reported notable progress. In 2024, scientists at Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University developed an optoelectronic microwave oscillator that operates without amplification stages. The device delivers exceptionally low phase noise, a key performance parameter for many applications, including advanced radar systems.
The launch of the MBG100A illustrates that Russia’s microwave technology ecosystem continues to evolve. Together with advances in emerging fields such as microwave photonics, the project reflects broader efforts to establish a domestic technology base capable of supporting the development of next-generation communications and radio-electronic equipment.
