Radio frequency, microwave and mmWave technology provider, Filtronic has invested in state-of-the-art plastic encapsulation equipment, which will allow the company to offer fully moulded plastic packaging for its high-performance RF components. Filtronic is one of just a handful of companies in the Europe that has the technology and knowledge to offer this service — and is unique in combining its RF knowledge with a vertically integrated offering.

Filtronic has been a leader in radio frequency, microwave and mmWave technology for >45 years, and the new plastic encapsulation investment is a testament to the company’s commitment to continuous improvement, quality, and innovation.

“Traditionally, plastic encapsulation of high reliability semiconductors has only been accessible to companies and sectors that operate with extremely high volumes, because of the costs of the tooling for just one product line,” explained Jerry Sanham, director of business development at Filtronic. “However, because of Filtronic’s unique approach, we can now provide a flexible and economically viable service to companies running product lines for anywhere between a few thousand and a few hundred thousand parts.”

The new plastic encapsulation service is a further addition to Filtronic’s expanding UK manufacturing capability and demonstrates its commitment to providing the aerospace and defence market with the technology required for next generation platforms. With this new assembly capability, Filtronic is ensuring that it can provide smaller package solutions with lower weight and reduce costs for customers wishing to avoid long supply chains and off shore manufacturing.

Filtronic’s new equipment has been partly funded by a grant from the County Durham Growth Fund. To find out more about how plastic encapsulation could impact your product design, visit the Filtronic website, or speak to a member of the team on 01740 618 800.

To find out more about Filtronic’s RF-to-mmWave solutions, visit the company’s website, or contact the team on +44 1740 618 800.

Filtronic, a leading designer of RF, microwave and mmWave products, has announced its involvement in a groundbreaking feasibility study aimed at improving and scaling up semiconductor design and manufacturing within the UK. The initiative is part of Innovate UK’s investment of up to £11.5 million in innovation projects to advance semiconductor manufacturing capabilities across the nation.

The project, named “OPTIME-PA: Optimal MMIC design of E-band power amplifiers for Satcom using dedicated measurements and non-linear modelling,” addresses the critical need for accurate simulations in predicting the performance of Microwave Monolithic Integrated Circuit (MMIC) designs for millimetre-wave applications. Given the inherent challenges of tuning MMICs once they are manufactured, precise modelling is vital for achieving first-pass design success, reducing development cycles, lowering manufacturing costs and enhancing product competitiveness.

The design of linear circuits is relatively straightforward, relying on linear measurements and electromagnetic (EM) simulations to predict performance. However, designing power amplifiers (PAs) poses additional complexities, as large-signal, non-linear models must be used. While generic models provided by integrated circuit foundries yield reasonable results for various applications, they lack the necessary accuracy to optimise performance for specific applications.

The primary objective of this collaboration is to establish a robust methodology for accelerating the design process and enhancing competitiveness in terms of performance and time-to-market for E-band power amplifiers in Gallium Nitride (GaN) MMIC technology. To achieve this, the partners will develop a dedicated transistor model by leveraging the unique, advanced non-linear measurements located at Cardiff University.

The high-value experimental data obtained will enable Filtronic to design MMICs dedicated to E-Band (71-86GHz) for space applications, gaining a significant competitive advantage in the rapidly expanding New-Space market. This advantage stems from the market’s demand for low-cost, low-SWAP (Size, Weight, and Power), and high-performance devices. Until now, E-band designs have been constrained to established and well-modelled Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) processes, limiting their application in the space industry.

“By pushing the boundaries of semiconductor design and manufacture, this project aims to revolutionise the industry, unlock new possibilities for space applications, and position the UK as a global leader in semiconductor technology,” said Tudor Williams, Director of Technology at Filtronic. “Filtronic is honoured to be a part of this, and we look forward to collaborating with Innovate UK, UK Research and Innovation, Cardiff University and other key partners.”

This project stands out for its innovative approach, introducing experimentally driven behavioural transistor models at E-band for the design of advanced power amplifiers. Leveraging a world-unique mmWave measurement system, this feasibility study paves the way for groundbreaking advancements in semiconductor manufacturing, driving the growth of the UK’s technology industry.

To find out more about Filtronic’s RF-to-mmWave solutions, visit the company’s website, or contact the team on +44 1740 618 800.

Filtronic, the mmWave expert, announced two new contracts for its game-changing solution, the Hercules II, used in ultra-high-power E-band links for long-range private networks.

At the recent European Microwave Week, Filtronic launched the Hercules II, which combines the Morpheus II transceiver and either a Cerus 4 or 8 SSPA module. This new product design is targeted at long-range, high-capacity private networks, that demand unmatched speed, performance and versatility. The Hercules II boosts the available transmit power and provides an option to incorporate an ultra-low noise LNA to further optimise link budget, ensuring extended reach and enhanced coverage.

The emergence of long-haul private networks using E-band is becoming an exciting opportunity for Filtronic. For 5G and beyond, the E-band spectrum (70/80GHz) is essential, in addition to offering fiber-like capacities, it can be rolled out quickly and efficiently.  With E-band acting like fiber “in the sky”, it raises the possibility of ultra-fast, long-range hops as an enterprise solution for large private networks, and with the Hercules II, our customers can access the highest power E-band transceiver module on the market.

The contracts valued circa £0.3m are for the supply of initial trial units, for which follow-on business is anticipated in 2024, as part of existing network upgrades.

“These new opportunities mark the next stage of our growth in this exciting market,” said Dan Rhodes, Business Development Director at Filtronic. “The Hercules II enables our customers to access up to +36dBm transmit power, providing them with a reliable and sturdy connection, even over long distances. This makes it the preferred solution for demanding applications that require significant power reserves.”

To find out more about Filtronic’s RF-to-mmWave solutions, visit the company’s website, or contact the team on +44 1740 618 800.

Filtronic, the RF specialist for critical communications, has announced the launch of its new 48-port Tower Top Amplifier (TTA) solution. This addition to its existing TTA platform provides more capacity for P25 networks that provide assistance across jurisdictional boundaries or for agencies that have outgrown their current system.

Working closely with the leading Critical Communication OEM, Filtronic expanded its TTA platform to improve system performance and flexibility. The 48-port TTA is built on the existing platform with a 2.5dB noise figure to deliver better call quality, greater coverage ultimately requiring fewer sites.

The 48-port system is the most recent improvement to the TTA range, following the firmware enhancements released at the end of 2022. The new system configuration offers increased flexibility, further cementing its position as the industry-leading TTA with the highest IIP3 available on the market.

“Our new 48-port system is manufactured in the USA and will continue to be improved and enhanced,” said Walter Magiera, Filtronic’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Working with our customers, we recognized a technology gap and evolving market demand for system growth within the same compact footprint. Filtronic is committed to continuous improvement, as these recent upgrades demonstrate.”

RF- and mm-wave specialist, Filtronic, has been awarded the Innovative Supplier Collaboration Award from Leonardo as part of the Leonardo Innovation Awards 2023. Accolades are given to key suppliers of the aerospace and defence giant, who have stood out for their commitment to excellence, spirit of collaboration and excellent results achieved.  

Filtronic was given this award for innovation in manufacturing, specifically relating to Leonardo’s transmit and receive modules (TRMs). Filtronic has invested in technology that could enable a transition from hybrid assemblies to plastic-packaged modules, resulting in a significant improvement in performance vs. cost. For a typical AESA radar that requires a large number of these components, this could result in a step change in capability.

“This award is a great acknowledgement of our consistent history of successful delivery to Leonardo, and follows the supply chain excellence award we won in 2020” commented Jerry Sanham, Business Development Director at Filtronic. “We are investing in the technology to assist Leonardo in taking their TRMs to the next level, resulting in improvements in Size, Weight, and Power (SWAP-C), as well as cost.”

Leonardo is an Italian-headquartered multinational organisation specialising in aerospace, defence and security. The company is one of the ten largest defence contractors in the world.

In receipt of Filtronic receiving this award, a Leonardo spokesperson said, “Filtronic’s agility in responding to this technology transition enables Leonardo to capitalise on their innovative solutions.”

““This project, using Filtronic technology backed by the UK Space Agency through the ARTES programme to explore 6G capabilities, in partnership with Plum and Sussex is a brilliant example of how the UK is excelling in this area; exploiting opportunities to enhance services that make our lives better and contribute to the growth of our thriving satellite communications and wider space sector.”

The contract, valued at $4.25m (£3.4m), with revenue expected to be recognised in FY 2024, is for the supply of Filtronic’s innovative Cerus 32 solid state power amplifier (“SSPA”) module combined with a customised control board. The SSPA modules will be installed in selected ground station locations for the second phase of the customer’s earth station antenna deployment which is designed to provide full E-band connectivity to recently launched E-band enabled LEO satellites. This programme is the first time that high bandwidth E-band frequencies have been successfully utilised, in volume, in a commercial global LEO space application.

The Cerus Power Module incorporates Filtronic’s unique MMIC chip design and proprietary power combining techniques to provide a small form factor amplifier module with scalable output powers ranging from 4W to >10W at E-band frequencies. Working closely with the customer’s design team, Filtronic have been able to build on the success of the initial Cerus16 SSPA supplied earlier this year to provide a Cerus32 SSPA module that is optimised for ease of field deployment and future performance upgrade. The Cerus family of SSPA module products are available with a variety of power levels and can support the multiple frequency bands that are required in the growing number of LEO space applications.

Richard Gibbs, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Having successfully delivered phase one of their E-band earth station antenna installation earlier this year, we are delighted to continue our collaboration with one of the leading global providers of LEO space solutions in the second phase of their E-band deployment programme. We are also pleased that the customer has selected the Cerus32 module from our technology roadmap for this next phase of their roll-out. The Cerus32 product provides higher performance, in a smaller and scalable form factor, and the option to further enhance output powers as next generation compound semiconductor technology becomes available later this year”.

Filtronic, a global leader in mmWave and high-frequency communication solutions, has announced the launch of the Hercules II E-band transceiver, a groundbreaking turnkey solution for ultra-high power, high-capacity E-band links. The Hercules II combines Filtronic’s Morpheus II transceiver and either a Cerus 4 or 8 SSPA module, revolutionising high-speed backhaul networks with its unmatched performance and versatility.

 The Hercules II brings together the best of Filtronic’s Morpheus II module with the power-enhancing Cerus amplifier, resulting in seamless integration and an exceptional range of benefits. Each Morpheus II module contains all the transmit and receive functions required for the RF section of an E-band link, facilitating a simple and efficient connection to a high data rate full duplex modem. In conjunction with the Cerus power amplifier, the Hercules II significantly boosts the available transmit power, ensuring extended reach and enhanced coverage.

The Hercules II supports spectrally efficient modulation techniques, optimising the use of available bandwidth and ensuring higher data throughput. This capability makes it an ideal choice for high-performance, low latency private  networks, for applications as diverse as high frequency trading and for inter-platform links for High Altitude Pseudo Satellites and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

With up to +36dBm transmit power, the Hercules II ensures reliable and robust connections even over long distances, making it the preferred solution for demanding applications that require substantial power reserves. Its high-power output allows for seamless data transmission across a variety of challenging scenarios. It is also designed for easy incorporation into ODUs, enabling rapid time to market with minimal customer engineering resources — reducing upfront investment and technical risk for OEMs. The integration of Filtronic’s proprietary MMICs ensure high-performance components at foundry-level pricing, offering a cost-effective solution for complex applications.

The Hercules II supports up to 2GHz RF channels, providing increased flexibility to address various deployment scenarios. This adaptability allows network operators to adjust and optimise their E-band links according to specific requirements and evolving network demands. Its integrated diplexer connects directly to an antenna of choice via a standard WR12 interface, streamlining installation and reducing complexity. This seamless antenna interface simplifies deployment and reduces setup time, making it an efficient solution for network operators seeking a hassle-free implementation.

“The Hercules II represents a significant milestone in mmWave technology,” said Dan Rhodes, Director of Business Development at Filtronic. “With its unmatched power and capacity, this turnkey solution opens new possibilities for ultra-high-speed data transmission, revolutionising mobile backhaul networks for the 5G era. We are confident that the Hercules II will provide our customers with a competitive edge in the market, and are excited to see the innovative applications it will enable.”

Filtronic is a leading provider of mmWave and high-frequency communication solutions, offering innovative products that address the growing demands of tomorrow’s high capacity terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. With a proven track record of delivering reliable and cutting-edge technology, Filtronic continues to be a trusted partner for wireless network providers and equipment manufacturers worldwide.

The Hercules II is now available to order. For more information about Filtronic and its innovative product portfolio, visit the Filtronic website.

For more information about Filtronic and its existing product range, visit filtronic.com.

Filtronic, the leading provider of advanced RF and mmWave solutions, has been selected by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) for the prestigious Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP), supported by Innovate UK. This scheme, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence’s Directorate of Industrial Strategy and Exports (DISE), which aims to foster innovation and enhance defence supply chains by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing state-of-the-art materials, technologies and processes.

 Under the DTEP award, Filtronic will undertake a groundbreaking project titled “Low cost and SWAP high density packaging for future RADAR” designed to develop a specialist, plastic encapsulation capability for compound semiconductor devices, focusing on high-density System in Package (SiP) designs. The project will prioritise low-weight, low-cost, high-density packaging for high-power semiconductor devices, specifically designed to perform in challenging operational environments for the MoD, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and their global allies.

Key technical areas to address include die attach for optimal thermal and mechanical performance and the development of custom solutions  to mitigate issues such as wire bond lift, mould bleed and package delamination. By reducing size, weight, power and cost (SWAP-C) while increasing complexity, Filtronic will initially target transmit-receive modules for electronically scanned airborne radar systems. However, the applications for this packaging technology extend to other detector, sensor and communication systems in the defence, industrial and commercial sectors.

“This opportunity not only demonstrates our technological expertise but also strengthens our commitment to supporting the UK’s defence industry, it’s sovereign supply chain and future radar programmes”, highlighted Tudor Williams, director of technology at Filtronic. “Filtronics advanced manufacturing site in Sedgefield is committed to providing a leading sovereign plastic packaging capability to the UK defence industry and we’re excited to showcase this as part of this project”.

For more information about Filtronic and its existing product range, visit filtronic.com.

RF and mm-Wave specialist, Filtronic, has announced the successful contract win from the European Space Agency (“ESA”), supported by the UK Space Agency, as a result of a recent funding call in the area of Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity. The €3.7M contract falls under ESA’s Advanced Research and Telecommunications Systems (“ARTES”) programme, which capitalises on a company’s innovative idea and develops it into a successful commercial deployment, keeping Europe at the leading edge of the fiercely competitive global satellite communications market.

This win will enable Filtronic to develop advanced mmWave products for satellite payloads and gateway links from satellite to ground stations, providing ubiquitous broadband connectivity as a critical component in future telecom networks. With over 40 years of RF history, Filtronic is well placed to exploit the opportunities in the highly disrupted ‘New Space’ market, where price and ability to manufacture, with high precision, at volume have become as critical as performance.

“Filtronic has already developed a range of technologies and products for mmWave bands up to 114.5GHz,” for the terrestrial telecommunications market explained Tudor Williams, Director of Technology at Filtronic. “This contract win allows us to further develop our core IP in a suite of solutions targeted at the Low Earth Orbit market. Satellite operators are increasingly turning to Ka, Q/V, W-band frequencies to deliver the ultra-high bandwidth data links and Filtronic is uniquely positioned to adapt existing product, manufactured in commercial volumes, for the specific requirements of space.

“Building upon recent successes in LEO ground systems, this project provides Filtronic with the opportunity to supply low-cost payload solutions to other customers that require high-bandwidth feeder link solutions in future satellite constellations. This contract will act as a real launchpad for our space ambitions” concluded Williams.

Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: “As we rely increasingly on satellite communications across all aspects of our daily lives, innovations that improve and expand the scope of these services have become an economic engine for the global space sector.

“Filtronics products, which aim to tackle major challenges, such as bandwidth requirements for emerging telecoms, provide a brilliant example of how the UK is excelling in this area; exploiting opportunities to enhance services that make our lives better and contribute to the growth of our thriving satellite communications and wider space sector.”

“Filtronic is in a great position to deliver this project,” commented Fabrizio De Paolis, 5G/6G Implementation Manager of ESA. “Its in-house design and manufacturing capability is one-of-a-kind in the UK and, through its ARTES programme, ESA is delighted to partner with Filtronic to establish a leading position in this exciting and growing sector.

The ARTES contract win has led to Filtronic advertising for several roles at its headquarters in Sedgefield County Durham, with opportunities for significant future growth and career development. “It’s always great to see new jobs being created in the North-East, even more so when they’re linked to innovative high growth sectors like space,” commented Paul Howell, MP for Sedgefield.

For more information about Filtronic and its existing product range, visit filtronic.com.