ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a multi-system radar contract to Arralis, an Ireland-based company that serves the aerospace sector.

The €400,000 deal was a renewal of a previous contract with ESA. It was signed during the Enterprise Ireland Trade and Investment Mission to the Netherlands and Germany.

Under the deal, Arralis will continue the supply of 94GHz subsystems used in space applications, including a huge data rate satellite, satellite communications and unmanned landing of spacecraft.

Arralis is involved in designing and manufacturing high frequency semiconductor chips, modules and antennas up to and beyond 110GHz.

Irish prime minister Enda Kenny said: "We are seeing a steady increase in the number of companies in Ireland engaging with ESA in developing technologies for the global space market with the active support of Enterprise Ireland.

"ESA is at the heart of Europe’s space ambitions and it is inspiring to see Irish companies like Arralis contribute to the new technologies that are in demand by the space industry and which form the foundations of European Space programmes now and in the future."

With Arralis’ 94GHz communications system, future spacecrafts are expected to be able to communicate at even faster speeds.

"We have been working with the European Space Agency for some time and are delighted to get to deliver the world leading technology."

Demand for data speed is also rising as 3.17 billion internet users worldwide insist on better access to their data services such as high resolution imagery and video, which is gathered by space probes.

With the help of the 94GHz high speed communications system, data users on Earth will be able to use wireless data at a speed of 15Gbit/s over distances of up to 15km.

The 94GHz high speed communications system is used in radar operations and will help spacecraft identify safe landing zones.

Arralis CEO Barry Lunn said: "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 a taoiseach.

"This type of communications technology is the future of 5G, so today it is ESA but eventually everyone will benefit from this infrastructure.

"That is what makes government support for ESA programmes so important, so Irish SMEs can tackle the big technology advances."

Arralis operates a design centre in Belfast that builds high definition radar and ultra-fast data communications for aerospace and satellite markets.

Image: (left to right) ESA delegate Brian Rodgers (Enterprise Ireland), Barry Lunn and Arralis chief technology officer Mike Gleaves. Photo: courtesy of Arralis.