Ultra-wideband arrays have been a trend of development of radar, communication, and electronic information systems. Microwave photonics (MWP), combining the advantages of both microwave and photonic technologies, will pave the way for the development of electronic information systems with novel mechanism. In this paper, the domestic and foreign research progresses of MWP are reviewed. A signal processing architecture based on MWP technologies and adapted to multiple scenarios is discussed. The research progresses in theories, experiments, and applications of typical MWP technologies, such as high quality signal generation, large dynamic signal transmission, phase stabilization of distributed signals, optical beamforming, and optical channelization, are described. In the end, the development trends of microwave photonics are expected.