Filtronic wins $68.1m SpaceX order for E-band GaN amplifiers
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Filtronic has received a $68.1m (£51.3m) follow-on order from SpaceX for Cerus E-band gallium nitride solid-state power amplifier units.
The County Durham company described it as its largest order from SpaceX. It follows a $62.5m order announced in August 2025 for Filtronic’s next-generation proprietary GaN E-band technology.
Most of the new order is expected to be fulfilled during Filtronic’s 2028 financial year. The company said the agreement gives it stronger visibility over revenue for that period.
Cerus amplifiers operate in the E-band millimetre-wave spectrum used for high-capacity communications links. Filtronic said the GaN devices provide higher output power, efficiency and thermal performance than comparable gallium arsenide technology.
The company supplies RF and millimetre-wave equipment for space, aerospace, defence, telecommunications infrastructure and critical communications applications. Its relationship with SpaceX has developed through orders connected with the Starlink satellite communications network.
Filtronic chief executive Nat Edington called the order a significant milestone and said it extended the company’s order coverage over the next two years.
The contract value is firm, but the announcement does not disclose unit quantities, individual amplifier specifications, production locations or delivery milestones. Filtronic said the order underpins its board’s expectations for FY2028.
