Communications tech firm Filtronic has secured nearly £170,000 for a project that aims to deliver cutting edge components for radar systems.
The County Durham and Leeds-based firm is one of two innovators to secure funds through the Government’s £16m Defence Technology Exploitation Programme that is designed to boost competitiveness in the UK’s defence supply chain. As part of a £339,000 project, Filtronic is working with an undisclosed, major aerospace firm to manufacture and test specialist transmit receive modules (TRMs) for airbourne radar systems.
Engineers at the component maker have designed the TRMS which uses high power density compound semiconductor materials and are much lighter and cheaper compared to ceramic alternatives. It is hoped the technology can also be applied to other detector, sensor and communication systems for defence and commercial uses.
Read more: Pattesons Glass to build new headquarters in North East Lincolnshire
Tudor Williams, director of technology at Filtronic, said: “This opportunity not only demonstrates our technological expertise but also strengthens our commitment to supporting the UK’s defence industry, its sovereign supply chain and future radar programmes. We are excited to be part of this programme.”
The programme is sponsored by the MoD’s Directorate of Industrial Strategy and Exports (DISE) and delivered through the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), Innovate UK, and ADS. Joining Filtronic in the initial round of funding is ISS Aerospace which is developing a drone capable of carrying up to 250kg and powered by aviation-fuelled hybrid electric turbine generator power plant instead of rechargeable battery packs.
Anita Friend, head of DASA, said: “Congratulations to these first two SMEs on receiving DTEP funding. Working with their higher-tier partners, their projects will deliver new innovations into the UK defence supply chain, helping to meet the MOD’s enduring capability challenges while developing their businesses. Through DTEP, the value to the larger partner companies is that they will have early access to new and exciting technologies, material or processes that they can to help commercialise.”
Original artice – https://business-live.co.uk/all-about/yorkshire-humber
