Crest of the mmWave: dual use innovation

Analysing the vast quantities of data delivered in the modern battlespace can be demanding. Credit: Peoplemages.com-YuriA / Shutterstock

RF and mmWave technology is at the heart of everything from 5G networks to advanced military radar systems. While the core tech is often the same, the pace of innovation and adoption can be worlds apart. The commercial sector moves fast, driven by competition and rapid technological shifts, while the military space demands rigorous testing, security, and long-term reliability.

Filtronic sits right at the intersection of these two worlds, helping to bring cutting-edge RF and mmWave solutions to both civil and defence applications. With growing demand for high-frequency, high-power technology in satellite communications, secure data links, and electronic warfare, the company is seizing opportunities across multiple sectors. What is more, with the UK government pushing for more dual-use technologies, Filtronic’s is positioned across multiple markets.

Global Defence Technology caught up with Tudor Williams, chief technology officer at Filtronic, who lifts the lid on the future of high-frequency communications, the challenges of RF and mmWave adoption, and why the push for dual-use innovation is changing the game.

Tudor Williams: There’s a lot of crossover between the civil and military markets when it comes to RF and mmWave technology, particularly in satellite communications, radar, electronic warfare, and secure data links. The core technology, being high-frequency components like SSPAs, LNAs, filters and frequency converters, is largely the same, but the speed of adoption is a different story.

The commercial sector moves fast, especially in areas like 5G and satellite communications, where competition drives constant innovation. Companies need to deliver high-volume, cost-effective solutions quickly to stay ahead, whereas the military sector works on much longer timelines due to strict regulations, extensive testing, and the need for mission-critical reliability. While commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology can sometimes be adapted for defence, military applications often require extra layers of security and qualification, which slows the process.

That said, the gap is closing. There’s a push for dual-use technologies, where military applications use advancements from the commercial world. We’re already seeing this in satellite communications, where Ka, Q, V, and E-band SSPAs originally developed for commercial use are now being evaluated for defence. By adapting proven commercial solutions, the military can access cutting-edge technology faster and more cost-effectively.

While defence will always require a measured approach, the move toward dual-use innovation is making advanced RF and mmWave technology more accessible, helping military forces to stay ahead without reinventing the wheel.

Tudor Williams: Absolutely. Bandwidth is always a challenge when transmitting data, especially in contested or remote environments. Issues like spectrum congestion, atmospheric losses, interference, and regulatory restrictions can all impact how much data can be sent and how reliably it gets through.

To tackle these issues, new technologies are being developed to maximise bandwidth efficiency and improve data transfer. Higher-frequency mmWave bands, such as Ka, Q, and V-Band, offer greater capacity, while techniques like beamforming and adaptive modulation help optimise signal strength and reliability. Interestingly, AI-driven spectrum management is also making waves by dynamically adjusting frequencies to avoid interference and make the most of available bandwidth.

Beyond that, multi-orbit satellite networks, which combine low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and geostationary (GEO) satellites, are helping to distribute data more effectively. Hybrid RF-optical communications that blend traditional radio frequency with laser-based free-space optics are also providing high-speed, secure links with minimal interference.

Together, these advancements are making data transfer faster, more secure and more resilient across both civil and military applications. As demand for high-speed, reliable connectivity continues to grow, these technologies will ensure seamless communication, whether for commercial networks or mission-critical defence operations.

Tudor Williams: The conflict in Ukraine has made it clear that if a signal can be sent, it can also be jammed or denied. Adversaries use a range of electronic warfare techniques to disrupt communications, from brute-force jamming — where they flood a frequency with noise — to more sophisticated methods like deceptive jamming, which tricks receivers with false signals. Some attacks go even further, using adaptive interference and cyber tactics to target specific communication links.

To counter these threats, a range of advanced technologies are being deployed. Frequency hopping and spread spectrum techniques make signals harder to detect and disrupt by constantly shifting transmission frequencies.

Unlocking the potential of higher frequency bands presents a significant opportunity opportunity. At mmWave frequencies, well beyond the typical sensing range of <40 GHz, communications become virtually undetectable. As frequency increases, signals become highly directional, making them not only harder to intercept but also incredibly difficult to jam with the combination of high power and high frequency a formidable challenge. AI-driven interference mitigation is also using real-time analysis to identify and counteract jamming attempts before they can take hold.

Beyond these measures, multi-band and multi-orbit communication strategies are enhancing resilience by ensuring that if one frequency or satellite link is compromised, others can take over. Hybrid RF-optical communication, which combines traditional radio signals with laser-based links, adds another layer of security by providing alternative transmission paths that are much harder to jam.

The goal is to ensure that communications remain secure, reliable, and resilient — even in the most contested environments.

Tudor Williams: Filtronic is looking ahead to big opportunities as demand for high-frequency, high-power mmWave technology keeps growing across various sectors. One of the biggest areas of expansion is satellite communications, where the need for high-data-rate, resilient links in both commercial and defence applications is driving interest in Ka, Q, and V-band SSPAs. With scalable manufacturing and sovereign UK production capabilities, Filtronic is well-positioned to support this growing market.

The defence sector is seeing new opportunities as demand for high-frequency, high-power RF solutions rise. From advanced radar and secure data links to enhanced threat detection, mmWave technology is needed, and Filtronic’s expertise puts it in a strong position to deliver.

Away from traditional markets, emerging applications are also opening new doors. Autonomous vehicles, industrial sensing, high-frequency imaging, and quantum computing are just a few of the areas where mmWave technology is gaining traction. As industries push for faster data transfer and more sophisticated sensing capabilities, Filtronic’s experience in designing and manufacturing advanced RF solutions puts it in a strong position to capitalise on this.

Tudor Williams: ​​​​​​​The UK’s focus on dual-use technology is a big opportunity for Filtronic, particularly in high-frequency RF and mmWave solutions that serve both commercial and defence applications. The advantage of dual-use technology is that it accelerates innovation, opposed to developing bespoke systems from scratch. This means that the military can adopt proven mmWave solutions originally designed for commercial markets, not only shortening time-to-market but also enabling faster deployment in the field too.

By operating across both sectors, dual-use technologies benefit from economies of scale. Higher production volumes drive down costs, making advanced mmWave solutions more affordable for defence without compromising on performance. At the same time, the pace of commercial innovation ensures that military applications stay at the cutting edge, integrating the latest advancements in RF and mmWave communications with less need for extensive requalification. Ultimately, this reduces development risk and speeds up adoption.

Another benefit is strengthening the UK’s industrial base. Developing dual-use technologies domestically allows the UK to build a more resilient, secure, and sovereign supply chain, in turn streamlining procurement. By adopting dual use mmWave solutions, defence and commercial sectors gain access to cutting-edge technology faster, at lower costs and with greater agility, ensuring a more responsive and efficient innovation cycle.

Australia could be one of the main beneficiaries of this dramatic increase in demand, where private companies and local governments alike are eager to expand the country’s nascent rare earths production. In 2021, Australia produced the fourth-most rare earths in the world. It’s total annual production of 19,958 tonnes remains significantly less than the mammoth 152,407 tonnes produced by China, but a dramatic improvement over the 1,995 tonnes produced domestically in 2011.

The dominance of China in the rare earths space has also encouraged other countries, notably the US, to look further afield for rare earth deposits to diversify their supply of the increasingly vital minerals. With the US eager to ringfence rare earth production within its allies as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, including potentially allowing the Department of Defense to invest in Australian rare earths, there could be an unexpected windfall for Australian rare earths producers.