<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF POWERWAVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-03-1999             DEC-28-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-29-1997             DEC-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-03-1999             DEC-28-1997
<CASH>                                          13,307                  67,433
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   31,212                  11,967
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,270                     769
<INVENTORY>                                     28,583                   8,844
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                78,038                  92,549
<PP&E>                                          26,286                  11,020
<DEPRECIATION>                                   5,838                   2,643
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 131,985                 101,683
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           42,828                  25,037
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                        65,027                  64,801
<OTHER-SE>                                       6,043                  10,679
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   131,985                 101,683
<SALES>                                        100,231                 119,709
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               100,231                 119,709
<CGS>                                           66,056                  71,027
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  107,232                  96,452
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 571                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (4,671)                  25,858
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (1,705)                   9,667
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (2,966)                  16,191
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (2,966)                  16,191
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.17)                     .95
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.17)                     .92
        


</TABLE>