Filtronic Secures Record £51 Million Order from SpaceX for Starlink Internet Service

British space technology firm Filtronic has announced its largest-ever order, a £51 million contract with Elon Musk's Starlink for its satellite internet service. This significant deal underscores the capabilities of the UK's advanced engineering sector.

The order, valued at approximately $68.1 million, is for Filtronic's amplifiers, which are crucial components for the ground systems supporting Starlink's high-speed satellite-based internet. Filtronic stated that the contract "demonstrates the strength of Britain's advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities, with a UK business supplying mission-critical technology for one of the world's most ambitious communications networks."

Shipments of the E-Band Gallium Nitride (GaN) Solid State Power Amplifier units are scheduled to begin in 2028. This follows a previous £47 million order placed last year. Filtronic, based in Sedgefield, County Durham, initially established a strategic partnership with SpaceX in 2024, which led to the first order for E-Band GaN amplifiers.

Nat Edington, Chief Executive Officer of Filtronic, described the follow-on order as "another significant milestone for Filtronic, providing extended order visibility and coverage over the next couple of years." He added, "This order provides further evidence of the growing importance of GaN technology in high-frequency communications and reinforces Filtronic’s position at the leading edge of this transition." Edington also noted that the contract validates the company's strategy to scale manufacturing capabilities.

Filtronic's partnership with SpaceX began after the company was identified as the sole global supplier capable of producing the necessary equipment. The collaboration has seen the value of Filtronic's shares more than triple in less than two years. The company will assemble thousands of solid state power amplifiers at its facility in Sedgefield, designed to connect with Starlink satellites orbiting approximately 370 miles above Earth.

In addition to its work with SpaceX, Filtronic holds contracts with UK defense companies BAE Systems and QinetiQ, valued at £4.5 million and £2.5 million respectively. The company is also involved in a European satellite broadband project with Airbus.

Edington, who has over three decades of experience in the electronics industry, joined Filtronic in May 2024. The initial £6.4 million order with SpaceX was signed three months later, preceding the larger £47 million deal announced in August of the previous year.