AIM-listed Filtronic has landed its largest-ever contract by securing a £47.3m order from Elon Musk’s SpaceX for its next-generation gallium nitride (GaN) E-band technology – a type of radio frequency (RF) technology designed for high-performance wireless communication.
The Sedgefield-based RF specialist will begin shipping production units in 2027, with revenues expected across FY2027 and FY2028.
The deal marks a major milestone for the UK’s advanced electronics sector and deepens the company’s role in SpaceX’s Starlink programme.
It is not the first time that the two businesses have partnered, as a £16.8m contract earlier this year awarded to Filtronic by SpaceX saw the former’s share price rise from 92p to 108p in two working days.
This has risen further since and stood at 145.7p at 9:05am today.
The technology is said to deliver more than twice the output power of Filtronic’s existing gallium arsenide (GaAs) product line.
The company says GaN offers several key performance benefits, including higher power, greater efficiency and superior thermal management.
Nat Edington, CEO of Filtronic, said: “We are extremely proud to announce this landmark contract, which not only sets a new commercial record for Filtronic, but also reflect the success of our partnership with world-leading satellite company SpaceX, supporting the Starlink constellation.
“GaN represents a transformative opportunity for the ground segment of LEO communications, and this contract is further testament to the world-class engineering talent of both teams working together.”
Mike Nicholls, VP of engineering at Starlink, added: “Filtronic is a valuable partner to SpaceX, and has been an important contributor to the rollout and success of the Starlink constellation.
“This next generation technology will provide further benefits to our system and our customers’ experience, and we’re excited to enter this next phase with Filtronic.”