Kasdon Secures Contract to Produce 180,000 PCBs for Radio Telescope

West Midlands-based Kasdon Electronics has secured a two-year contract to supply 180,000 PCB assemblies for the SKA-Low radio telescope, which will be constructed in Australia. The contract is with Italian receiver manufacturer Sirio Antenne, known for their high-quality antennas.

Kasdon Electronics was chosen as the UK partner to support Sirio Antenne after an extensive search and prototyping build phase. The company will be responsible for the production of small double-sided FR4 PCBs, which will be populated and tested at their site in Willenhall. Production is set to commence in January 2024.

The SKA-Low radio telescope is part of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), a massive phased-array system consisting of a 65km baseline and 131,072 2m tall log-periodic antennas. These antennas are distributed as a dense central core surrounded by three spiral arms, resulting in a total collecting area of 400,000m².

The SKA-Low observation product is crucial for the success of the SKA project, and Sirio Antenne's expertise in antenna design and manufacturing makes them the ideal choice for this component. Kasdon Electronics, with their experience and capabilities, will play a vital role in supporting Sirio Antenne in delivering the required PCB assemblies.

This collaboration between Kasdon Electronics and Sirio Antenne highlights the importance of international partnerships in the development of cutting-edge technology. The SKA-Low radio telescope represents a significant advancement in radio astronomy and will contribute to our understanding of the universe.