Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • HRH The Prince of Wales opens Kromek's Brinkman CZT Growth Facility

Defence Security Events

HRH The Prince of Wales opens Kromek's Brinkman CZT Growth Facility

Kromek, the County Durham-based developer of radiological and biological detectors, welcomed HRH The Prince of Wales to its Sedgefield headquarters last week, where he opened the Brinkman CZT Growth Facility.

Above: HRH Prince Charles asked Eve Paylor Product Manager Radiation Craig Duff CBRN Business Manager and Arnab Basu detailed questions about the D3S and the D5 RIID radiation detectors.
Courtesy Kromek

Consisting of 154 new furnaces this is the only CZT production facility in the UK and one of just a few worldwide. CZT Technology is key to many of the Kromek sensing and imaging products across the defence, security and medical sectors.

Advertisement
ODU RT

The Prince of Wales was shown the complete suite of Kromek’s radiological detectors, including the handheld, wearable and networked D5 RIID and D3S models which are amongst the most accurate, quickest acting, highly sensitive and lightest most useable detectors in the world. His Royal Highness then accepted a personalised D3S as a memento of his visit. When fitted to the AARM drone system for airborne surveillance and spectroscopy, they provide a proven remote reconnaissance and survey capability.  

The Royal visit follows shortly after the emergency Extraordinary Summit in Brussels, where the wearable D3S-ID detector was deployed as part of the CBRN protection for the world leaders attending including US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The summit coincided with the award of a £1.7 million follow-on order for CBRN detection products and services from one of Kromek’s principal UK government customers.
 
His Royal Highness was also shown the new advanced COVID-19 and novel pathogen detection systems, part of Kromek’s increasing work in biological agent and pathogen detection. The emphasis of this work has been speed and accuracy of detection coupled with minimal human intervention. A key output of the biological detectors as with the radiation detectors is transferable useable data.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Above: HRH Prince Charles heard Jamie Marsay Chief Designer of the Kromek Biological Toxin Detector explain the finer points of the ground breaking KAPscan COVID and Biological Agent Detector.
Courtesy Kromek

 
Kromek CEO Dr Arnab Basu said: “We were delighted to welcome His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to our headquarters and demonstrate the world-beating, cutting-edge radiological and biological detection products which play such a vital role in protecting the United Kingdom and our other international customers. The visit is testament to the work our talented team do here and builds on our Queen’s Award for Enterprise-International Trade.”  

CBRN Manager Craig Duff said: “Kromek understands the UK customer requirements for a range of highly sensitive, reliable, easily useable and networked detectors. All our new devices are designed with the user’s needs at the forefront of the design criteria.”

Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner
Apache support drones get £10m boost

Defence

Apache support drones get £10m boost

18 May 2026

Fully autonomous drones which will accompany the British Army’s Apache helicopters are receiving a £10 million investment as Project NYX reaches a new milestone.

RAF Typhoons deploying APKWS in Middle East

Defence

RAF Typhoons deploying APKWS in Middle East

18 May 2026

A new Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) is being be fitted to RAF Typhoons on operations in the Middle East, providing a low-cost anti-drone weapon to precisely destroy targets for a fraction of the price of missiles currently used.

BAE Systems delivers US Space Force missile warning sensor system

Defence Space

BAE Systems delivers US Space Force missile warning sensor system

18 May 2026

BAE Systems has delivered the sensor subassembly and sensor system controller components for the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Polar (NGP) programme, providing advanced missile warning, technical intelligence and battlespace characterisation mission capabilities, for the US Space Force.

QinetiQ supports Typhoon counter drone missile integration

Defence

QinetiQ supports Typhoon counter drone missile integration

17 May 2026

QinetiQ has supported the RAF in rapidly integrating and testing laser guided, low-cost missiles to RAF Typhoons, which are now being used in the Middle East to defend against drone attacks.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Dstl backed robotics advance transforms military manufacturing

Defence

Dstl backed robotics advance transforms military manufacturing

15 May 2026

Rivelin Robotics, supported by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) expertise, has created microfactory technology that automates the slow, risky manual finishing of 3D printed parts.

Defence firms incentivised to deliver on time

Defence

Defence firms incentivised to deliver on time

15 May 2026

The UK Government is cracking down on waste and delays as defence companies are to be incentivised to deliver equipment on time and on budget with new reforms to Single Source Contract Regulations.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
General Atomics LB