North East defence comms specialist Filtronic, which makes communications products for aerospace, defence, space and telecoms infrastructure, has received an authorisation worth an initial £7m, likely to expand to £11m to supply “a European defence client.”
It is for the supply of high-performance active components for the next stage of a long-standing electronic sensor programme for a defence project.
The authorisation means Filtronic can begin work on the project, ahead of purchase order conversion in quarter one 2026.
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The total value of the contract is expected to be around £11m, with the initial phase worth £7m, over a two-year programme. Production will take place at Filtronic’s new secure, automated microelectronics facility in Sedgefield, County Durham. Filtronic also has offices in Leeds and Manchester.
Nat Edington, chief executive officer, said: “This latest win deepens our engagement with a key European defence customer and strengthens Filtronic’s position in the defence sector, a growing market for the group.
“As we invest in capability and capacity, Filtronic is increasingly well positioned to support long-term demand for advanced radio frequency solutions in the defence market.”
Earlier this month, Filtronic revealed In a trading update that it ended the first half of the year with £10.5m (May 25: £14.5m) cash at bank, having self-financed a move to a larger headquarters and manufacturing facility at Sedgefield.
This was £8.5m when excluding right of use property leases, which it stated provided “solid foundation for further investment and strategic growth.”
It came following a major year for the company, not least the £47.3m SpaceX deal for its next-generation E-band GaN product. Elsewhere it secured a £5.8m multi-year contract with “a leading European aerospace manufacturer” and a £13.4m contract with “a leading European defence prime.”
“Demand for high-frequency, secure and resilient communications continue to strengthen across our core space, aerospace and defence markets, creating long-term structural drivers for Filtronic,” CEO Edington, said at the time.
