Filtronic PLC, a designer and manufacturer of products for various markets including aerospace, defence, telecoms infrastructure, space, and critical communications, has been selected by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) for the prestigious Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP). The programme, supported by Innovate UK and sponsored by the UK Ministry of Defence's Directorate of Industrial Strategy and Exports (DISE), aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises in developing state-of-the-art materials, technologies, and processes for defence supply chains. Filtronic will receive a total grant funding of £170,000 and an additional £76,000 worth of support from its lead customer to embed the technology and capability into the business.
Under the DTEP award, Filtronic will undertake a project titled "Low cost and SWAP high density packaging for future RADAR." The project aims to develop a specialist plastic encapsulation capability for compound semiconductor devices, focusing on high-density System in Package (SiP) designs. The project will prioritize low-weight, low-cost, high-density packaging for high-power semiconductor devices that can perform in challenging operational environments for the UK Ministry of Defence, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and their global allies.
Filtronic will collaborate with a major aerospace and defence company to manufacture and test plastic encapsulated Transmit Receive Modules (TRMs) for electronically scanned radar systems. The TRMs will use the latest high power density compound semiconductor materials. Plastic encapsulation is lighter and cheaper compared to ceramic alternatives. Initially, the technology will be used in airborne radars but can also be applied to other detector, sensor, and communication systems for defence and commercial applications.
Richard Gibbs, CEO of Filtronic, stated that this opportunity not only demonstrates the company's technological expertise but also strengthens its commitment to supporting the UK's defence industry and sovereign supply chain. Filtronic's advanced manufacturing site in Sedgefield is dedicated to providing a leading sovereign plastic packaging capability to the UK defence industry.
In addition to the project win, Filtronic also announced a change of name for its Nominated Adviser and Sole Broker, which is now called Cavendish Capital Markets Limited following its own corporate merger.