<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND BALANCE SHEETS 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>                   3-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-02-2000             JAN-03-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-04-1999             DEC-29-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-04-1999             MAR-29-1998
<CASH>                                          54,008                  57,413
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   29,979                  12,069
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,270                     877
<INVENTORY>                                     30,581                   9,549
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               119,434                  83,222
<PP&E>                                          27,889                  12,617
<DEPRECIATION>                                   7,116                   3,263
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 172,633                  93,267
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           38,396                  17,145
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       115,177                  65,864
<OTHER-SE>                                      18,550                   9,145
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   172,633                  93,267
<SALES>                                         56,024                  22,650
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                56,024                  22,650
<CGS>                                           41,010                  13,795
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   52,574                  20,019
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 583                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,231                   3,476
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,179                   1,269
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              2,052                   2,207
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,052                   2,207
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .11                     .13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .11                     .13
        

</TABLE>