Plextek wins King's Award for space radar innovation
Thu, 12th Nov 2026 (Today)
Plextek has received a King's Award for Enterprise in Innovation, recognising the Cambridge engineering consultancy's PLX-T60 radar technology.
The commemorative trophy was presented by the Duke of Gloucester as part of the UK's business awards programme, which honours organisations for achievements including innovation.
The award centres on Plextek's PLX-T60, an ultra-compact reconfigurable sensing platform developed in the UK. The technology has already been deployed in orbit and is being developed further with support from international space agencies and satellite manufacturers.
The system is designed for space sustainability missions, in which satellites need to detect, locate and remove hazardous debris in orbit. It targets a market shaped by growing concern over congestion in low Earth orbit and the risks small debris fragments pose to spacecraft and satellites.
According to the European Space Agency's Space Debris Office, about 230 million debris objects measuring more than 1mm and up to 1cm are orbiting Earth. Fragments at that scale can still cause serious damage because of the speeds involved in orbital collisions.
Plextek said the PLX-T60 uses less power and weighs less than more traditional sensing systems. It added that the design can be adapted for use beyond space, including in defence, healthcare and industrial settings.
The company traces the origins of its millimetre-wave radar work to research and development backed by the Defence Science and Technology Labouratory and the Defence and Security Accelerator. That support helped move the technology from early defence-related work towards broader commercial and civil uses, including debris monitoring in space.
Founded more than 35 years ago, Plextek is based in the Cambridge technology cluster and works across radio and radar systems, software, electronics, artificial intelligence, data science and manufacturing. It has also produced a number of spin-out businesses, including Telensa, PRFI, Blighter Surveillance Systems and Redtail Telematics.
The King's Awards for Enterprise are regarded as one of the UK's best-known business honours. Winners can use the King's Awards emblem for five years.
Brent Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of Plextek, said: “Plextek is incredibly proud to receive the King's Award for Enterprise in Innovation. It is significant recognition of British-designed technology delivering real-world impact and of our ambition to turn bold ideas into solutions for some of the world's most complex challenges.
“As we continue to develop the technology, we're expanding its capabilities for increasingly demanding environments, while applying the same innovation across sectors including space, defence and healthcare. Ultimately, it's about helping our customers push the boundaries of what's possible, unlock new opportunities and deliver meaningful progress.”
Colin Smithers, Founder of Plextek, said the award reflected the company's wider work on applied engineering challenges. “We are pushing the boundaries of UK innovation, developing impactful, real-world solutions to tackle some of the most complex challenges facing the world today. This recognition is a testament to our achievements and the progress we continue to make.”
Dr Paul Kealey, Head of Delivery Partner Engagement at the Defence Science and Technology Labouratory, said: “Dstl is proud to have supported the development of this technology through funding, helping to advance UK innovation and develop new capabilities with the potential to address complex defence and security challenges, such as day/night, all-weather sensing for autonomous systems and counter-UAS applications. This recognition demonstrates the value of investing in pioneering science and technology and supporting British industry in turning innovative ideas into real-world solutions.”