by Alan Jacques
CASTLETROY-based technology company Arralis have been awarded a significant €400,000 multi-system radar contract from the European Space Agency.
The contract is an extension of previous work for the agency, where the Limerick company successfully delivered their world beating semiconductor technology.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny who was present for the formal signing of the deal, said it was inspiring to see Irish companies like Arralis contribute to the new technologies that are in demand by the space industry and form the foundations of European Space programmes.
Arralis designs and manufactures high frequency semiconductor chips, modules and antennas up to and beyond 110GHz. As part of this new contract Arralis will deliver a series of 94GHz subsystems with space end-use applications, such as massive data rate satellite-to-satellite communications and unmanned landing of spacecraft.
The communications system developed by Arralis will allow future spacecraft to communicate at speeds that to date, have been unattainable.
Chief executive Barry Lunn commented, “We have been working with the European Space Agency for some time and are delighted to get to deliver the world leading technology in the presence of An Taoiseach.”
“This type of communications technology is the future of 5G, so today it’s European Space Agency but eventually everyone will benefit from this infrastructure. That is what makes government support for ESA programs so important, so Irish SME’s can tackle the big technology advances,” he explained.
The ESA contract is the latest in a series of successes for Arralis. 2015 saw the company win significant contracts in the UK, South Korea, China and Russia for their radar technology. Arralis also announced multiple contracts from the UK Ministry of Defence for delivery of unique geolocation technology.
