Kasdon Electronics: Boosting the signal, reducing the noise for SKA-Low frequency antennas
Image credit: SKAO/Max Alexander
The SKA Observatory (SKAO) is building the SKA-Low telescope, one of the world’s largest radio telescope arrays, situated on Wajarri Yamaji Country in Western Australia. Here, 131,072 antennas will explore the first billion years of the universe, watching the births and deaths of the first stars and helping us to understand how the earliest galaxies formed. Compared to its predecessors, it will provide unprecedented resolution and sensitivity, creating a clearer picture of the cosmos than ever before.
Each antenna is made of horizontal branches of different lengths, called dipoles. Each dipole absorbs radio waves from the sky, and the bigger the dipole, the longer the wavelength it absorbs. When radio waves excite the dipoles an electrical current is generated, collected via a central transmission line and transmitted to the top of the antenna. Here a pair of Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) boost the weak signal without adding unwanted interference to provide the sensitivity and resolution that sets SKA-Low apart.
Construction of the SKA-Low telescope is currently underway, with more than 6,000 antennas have been deployed to date, and although still in its infancy, SKA-Low is already producing images of distant galaxies. The current planned SKA-Low deployment is 307 stations (each station being made up of 256 antennas), which requires 157,184 LNA Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). The full deployment will be 512 stations, a total of 262,144 LNA PCBs.
What did the SKAO and Sirio need?
The SKA Observatory awarded a contract to Italy’s SIRIO Antenne in 2022, to manufacture, assemble and deliver the SKA-Low antennas, with support from UK industry to provide key components. One of the components that Sirio is procuring from the UK is the Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), two of which form part of the printed circuit board (PCB) assembly that sits in the housing at the top of each antenna.
The SKAO and Sirio needed a reliable partner with the capability to produce high volume, high quality, Low Noise Amplifier PCBs for SKA-Low’s log-periodic antennas, operating in the frequency range 50 MHz to 350 MHz. To achieve this, Sirio carried out a selection process, asking companies to build prototypes and samples, which Sirio tested in their facility in Italy.
Why were Kasdon best placed to help?
Kasdon Electronics Limited is a UK leading contract electronics manufacturer, specialising in high quality, leading-edge electronic PCB assemblies. It is a family-owned business based in Willenhall, near Wolverhampton, in the heart of the UK. Kasdon has built a strong pedigree over the last 27 years in supporting high-end business sectors which include science, aerospace, military, medical and leading-edge technology companies.
Kasdon has invested in an ultra-modern state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, machinery and plant quality processes over the last seven years. Their in-house advanced process control systems allow them to build the product right first time, and support the scaling up of manufacturing, maintaining a high level of repeatability. Their use of super-automated robots builds quality into the product, rather than relying on inspection processes.
Kasdon has also invested in its workforce, who are trained to advanced IPC-A-610 quality standards and are ISO 9001 certified.
In 2023 Kasdon Electronics was awarded a contract by Sirio Antenne to procure the PCB components, populate and test the boards, and deliver the LNA PCBs to be integrated in their facility in Italy. To date they have built and tested 40,000 LNA PCBs, achieving a very high-quality yield of 99.995%.
What’s it like working with Sirio and the SKAO?
Kasdon Electronics Limited Managing Director Steve Stockley says,
“The relationship between the SKAO, Sirio Antenne and Kasdon Electronics has been based on honesty, integrity, and trust but most of all an enjoyable and successful business experience”. We look forward to continuing to support the SKAO and Sirio Antenne with their PCB requirements, which will bring lots of business opportunities back to the UK manufacturing sector and create jobs”.
What was the impact on Kasdon?
Kasdon Electronics were honoured to be able to produce the PCBs for the SKA telescopes, enabling the company to enter the radio astronomy market. Working with the SKAO has also boosted Kasdon’s reputation. Their LNA PCB components are being highlighted alongside a full-size SKA-Low antenna from Sirio at SKAO/STFC’s stand at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, 1-6 July 2025.
“We are now looking at new opportunities in the wider Big Science market that we had not previously considered. Over the next 12 months, Kasdon is planning to expand its facility by 10,000 sq ft (an increase of 50%), to enable expected growth from our existing customer base and also the Big Science market. We are thrilled to be associated with such innovative and high-profile projects such as those introduced by the SKAO and Sirio. We look forward to continuing business success between our respective companies in the exciting times ahead.”
Steve Stockley, Kasdon Electronics
