Birmingham antenna specialist secures space grant

An antenna specialist has begun a major project to develop a new system to be used in space, following a grant from the UK agency Pivot into Space.

Novocomms is aiming to develop a next-generation positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) antenna system and will have developed a proof-of-concept demonstrator by the end of this year.

PNT signals from space are crucial to the communications, defence and intelligence sectors, and Novocomms says the UK government has clear ambitions to strengthen its national infrastructure, given threats from China, Russia and other hostile states.

During the six-month project, Birmingham-based Novocomms will design, build and test its prototype using specific requirements from a UK-based satellite operator.

Pivot into Space is funded by the UK Space Agency and run by the Midlands Aerospace Alliance.

Technology manager for Pivot into Space, Liz Griffiths, said: “Novocomms specialise in state-of-the-art mmWave antenna technology and their knowledge and experience makes them a perfect fit to contribute to the UK’s PNT infrastructure. Having a demonstrable solution will help them to access future opportunities in the growing space sector.”

Sampson Hu, founder and CEO of Novocomms Group, said: “Highly focused R&D projects such as this are really important to the future prosperity of the UK electronics industry, as they allow us to develop world-beating technologies that could gain a foothold in emerging global applications. Developing our own, UK design and made communications infrastructure is not only vital to the future of manufacturing but also our national security.”