| With over 75 years of aerospace and defence engineering heritage,
Chelton is a leading manufacturer of advanced antennas, avionics and
land systems. The UK-based firm has pioneered numerous world-firsts in
defence communications – from novel static dischargers and radio-silent
tuneable antennas to airborne 4G public-safety radios and
ground-penetrating radar (GPR) for explosive-ordnance detection.
Today
Chelton's field-proven solutions span airborne and terrestrial
platforms, providing robust, mission-critical performance in the most
demanding environments. Its global, diversified product portfolio is
trusted by defence and aerospace integrators worldwide – more than 120
core platforms depend on Chelton's dynamic communications and navigation
systems to protect millions of lives.
Advanced Antenna Solutions for Airborne and Land Platforms
Chelton offers a complete range of high-performance antennas for both airborne antennas
and ground use. In the airborne domain, tuneable communication antennas
are a standout strength. Chelton's Tuneable antennas deliver
ultra-wideband coverage (30 MHz to 1850 MHz) with world-leading tuning
speed and efficiency. Over 60 years of experience have gone into these
electronically-tuned VHF/UHF designs, which include traditional blade
types, low-profile conformal variants and integrated arrays for
aircraft. These antennas support voice, data and SATCOM on combat jets,
helicopters and UAVs. Chelton's portfolio also includes specialized
HF/ADF antennas for long-range communication with minimal drag and
weight. By optimizing form factor and performance, Chelton HF antennas
ensure reliable comms in challenging flight conditions.
On the
ground, Chelton provides rugged land antenna systems to support
tactical radios, jammers and data links. The company supplies high-power
HF/VHF/UHF vehicle antennas, broadband troposcatter dishes and
microwave SATCOM arrays that endure harsh battlefield conditions. Its
land antennas come in single-band, multi-band and broadband
configurations for modern combat nets, software-defined radios and
strategic datalinks. Chelton's designs are battle-proven, capable of
withstanding vibration, weather and electromagnetic interference. The
land-antenna range even supports mounted Ground & Building
installations, ensuring permanent or deployable ground stations survive
the toughest environments. Combined with explosive ordnance detection
radar sensors and air traffic control radomes, Chelton's antenna
portfolio delivers complete spectrum coverage for defence
communications.
Key Antenna Features
•
Wideband Tuneability: Chelton's tuneable antenna range covers HF through
UHF and into L/S-band, enabling multi-role communications on a single
platform.
• Low-Drag Designs: Innovations like low-profile V/UHF
antennas and conformal arrays minimize aerodynamic impact on fast jets.
•
Specialist Microwave Arrays: Hundreds of high-gain, printed array and
omni-directional microwave antennas (2.5 GHz to 18 GHz) are available
for SATCOM and radar applications. These land and airborne microwave
antennas are tailored to customer specs, with thousands of standard
designs on hand.
• Rugged Land Systems: Chelton's land antennas
include field-proven whips with flexible mountings and optional
spike/elevation kits for vehicle and mast deployment. Many designs are
hardened for jamming environments (ECM) and rapid repositioning.
By
covering everything from lightweight comm antennas to hardened ground
radars, Chelton ensures defence platforms have the right antenna
solution for every mission.
Cutting-Edge Avionics Systems
Chelton's
avionics portfolio supplies the critical electronics that power
communication, navigation and situational awareness on defence aircraft.
Key solutions include:
• Airborne TETRA: Chelton pioneered
military-grade airborne TETRA radios (mission-critical push-to-talk) and
now maintains the world's largest installed base of airborne TETRA
systems. These digital radios give pilots and crew secure, interoperable
voice/data links for air-ground coordination. Chelton's TETRA products
were first adopted by the UK and are still in use across Europe, the US
and beyond. The flexible architecture means they can integrate
seamlessly with legacy and next-gen communications.
• Anti-Jam GPS
Systems: Chelton delivers high-performance GPS anti-jamming receivers
and Assured PNT solutions for navigation. For over 20 years Chelton has
developed Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas (CRPAs) and
multi-channel DACUs (Digital Antenna Control Units) that reject
interference. These systems are flight-proven on fighters, MALE UAVs,
helicopters and smart munitions. By combining robust crpa antenna with low-latency signal processing, Chelton's anti-jam GPS ensures "there is no compromise" in positioning accuracy.
•
Electronic Warfare Systems: Chelton's next-generation EW pods and
electronic support measures are built on a modular architecture. These
systems "replicate and counter evolving threats", enabling forces to
deny adversaries access to the spectrum while protecting friendly
sensors. Examples include NATO JEWCS EW training pods and anti-ship
missile defense kits. Chelton EW suites cover radar and comms jamming as
well as full-spectrum signal intelligence.
• Direction-Finding
Antennas: Complementing the above, Chelton offers specialized DF
antennas and receivers. These track distress and threat signals (30
MHz–470 MHz), improving situational awareness and search-and-rescue
capabilities.
Each avionics product is designed for mission-critical
performance: redundant architectures, secure links, and rigorous testing
ensure reliability in combat conditions. Together, these avionics
systems give military aircraft robust communications, assured
navigation, and electronic dominance in high-stakes scenarios.
Rugged Land Systems and Equipment
Chelton's
land systems tie together antennas and avionics into complete solutions
for ground and maritime defence. These systems support troop
communications, radar operations and safety-critical control functions:
•
Vehicle Intercom Systems: Chelton's military Vehicle Intercom Systems
(VIS) are built tough. Over 150,000 units are in service worldwide,
making them the top choice for armored vehicles and command platforms.
The VIS architecture is modular, supporting a wide range of vehicles
(from light patrol to heavy armor) and enabling secure, low-latency
voice/data comms under combat conditions. These intercoms meet full
military specs (battle-damage resilient, glove-friendly interfaces) and
offer both IP/VoIP and legacy analog modes. Recent additions include
digital bridging (e.g. the new Tactical Gateway Interface) for modern
networked operations.
• Air Traffic Management Systems: Chelton is
also a leader in ATC technology for defense. Its Air Traffic Management
(ATM) solutions deliver advanced radar display software and safety
tools for civil and military controllers on land and sea. Specialists in
radar integration, Chelton provides full approach, tower and surface
control systems – even for moving platforms. For example, Chelton ported
its land-based radar display system onto an aircraft carrier (HMS Queen
Elizabeth class), a world-first that enables naval ATC with familiar
tools. Chelton's ATM software includes safety nets, glideslope
monitoring and wind-farm mitigation, ensuring controllers maintain
situational awareness in even the most complex airspace.
•
Explosive Ordnance Detection Systems: Chelton develops high-performance
ground-penetrating radar systems for landmine and IED clearance. These
GPR mine detectors are designed for the "most demanding requirements",
providing soldiers with reliable subsurface imaging. The EOD portfolio
includes man-portable dual-sensor detectors (radar + metal detector) and
simulator-based training support (VR systems). By leveraging Chelton's
radar expertise, these EOD systems enhance force protection and
accelerate clearance in combat zones.
Each land system is integrated
with Chelton's antennas and software to form a holistic solution. For
instance, vehicle intercoms can use Chelton comm antennas, and EOD
radars utilize Chelton GPR antennas. Air traffic consoles run on Chelton
hardware. This cross-domain capability underscores Chelton's core
strength: innovation meets practicality.
Proven Performance for High-Stakes Environments
Chelton's
integrated portfolio of antennas, avionics and land systems is designed
to thrive in complex defense settings. Whether securing a battlefield
comms network or managing airspace, Chelton solutions are
mission-tailored, interoperable and field-proven. Customers benefit from
Chelton's continuous innovation and support: new products often evolve
from real-world feedback, making platforms more reliable and easier to
maintain.
As Chelton President Jason Abbott notes, "our globally
recognised portfolio spans Antennas, Avionics and Land systems, and more
than 120 core platforms depend on us for dynamic products and solutions
that protect millions of lives". This legacy of engineering excellence
means that defence prime contractors and militaries can rely on Chelton
for resilient communications and navigation, even under hostile jamming
or electronic attack.
In summary, Chelton's 75+ years of
expertise manifest in a one-stop shop for aerospace and defence
communications. From cutting-edge tuneable antennas to secure PTT
radios, and from vehicle intercoms to advanced radar displays, Chelton
provides the innovation, quality and service that defence and B2B
customers demand. By partnering with Chelton, military organizations
gain access to proven solutions that keep pilots, soldiers and systems
connected and mission-ready in the most challenging theatres.
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