Filtronic lands ‘record breaking’ SpaceX deal

A technology company has secured its largest ever order for satellite communications equipment.

Filtronic, a designer and manufacturer of advanced RF and microwave solutions, has won a £47.3 million ($62.5 million) contract with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to support its Starlink high-speed internet service.

Bosses say the deal marks the first order for Filtronic’s next-generation Gallium Nitride (GaN) powered Solid State Power Amplifier (SSPA) in the E-Band frequency range, marking a “significant milestone” for the County Durham-based firm.

They add the new E-Band GaN SSPA delivers higher output power, improved efficiency and enhanced thermal management, providing critical reliability for aerospace and defence applications, while supporting Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation.

Nat Edington, chief executive of Filtronic, which operates from Sedgefield’s NETPark, said: “Securing this record contract with SpaceX marks a significant milestone for Filtronic. 

“It validates the strength of our engineering capability and demonstrates the transformative value of GaN E-Band SSPA technology.

“This achievement would not have been possible without the expertise and dedication of both the Filtronic and SpaceX teams, and we are proud to play a role in advancing connectivity for the Starlink constellation and the wider LEO ecosystem.”

Filtronic’s engineering team developed the SSPA to tackle complex challenges in high-frequency integration, advanced packaging and thermal management. 

The product sets a new industry benchmark for size, weight, power and cost at mmWave frequencies, while cementing Filtronic’s long-standing relationship with SpaceX.

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