General Atomics

HRH The Princess Royal opens thermal imaging facility at Thermoteknix

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal opened a new electro-optics facility at Thermoteknix in Cambridge and presented the company with the King’s Award for Enterprise trophy for Innovation, in recognition of the company’s groundbreaking development in thermal imaging.



Above: Managing Director Dr Richard Salisbury proudly accepts the King’s Award for Enterprise (Innovation) from HRH The Princess Royal.
Courtesy Thermoteknix


Employing 75 people, Thermoteknix was established in 1982 by Managing Director Dr Richard Salisbury. The company manufactures a wide range of industrial and surveillance infrared based systems. With more than 40 years of milestones and groundbreaking innovation, the company made history in 2009 when its thermal imaging cameras were used by NASA on its successful LCROSS moon landing mission which identified the presence of lunar sub-surface water.

Thermoteknix has been the recipient of five such prestigious Queen’s and King’s Awards in recognition of its innovation and sales success in overseas trade, helping to promote the United Kingdom’s status as a world leader in design, manufacturing and customer success.    



Above:
Software Development Manager Simon Hothersall demonstrates the latest AR and thermal imaging breakthroughs to HRH The Princess Royal during her visit to Thermoteknix.
Courtesy Thermoteknix

The Princess Royal toured Thermoteknix’ headquarters in Cambridge, during which Her Royal Highness was given demonstrations of the company’s thermal imaging products, including cameras and systems which reduce industrial Carbon emissions, and fused night vision goggles which deliver UK forces with superior situational awareness and Augmented Reality capabilities.

The Princess Royal, attended by Mrs Julie Spence, Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridge, greeted Thermoteknix employees from each department and formally opened the new electro-optics facility and presented The King’s Award for Enterprise trophy to Managing Director, Dr Richard Salisbury.

The Princess Royal then unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark her visit.

The new electro-optics facility will support the company’s growth and increased demand for its thermal imaging products by forces around the world.   



Dr Salisbury commented: “It was an absolute privilege to host Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at our headquarters in Cambridge and to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise trophy form her. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to present our exceptional staff to Her Majesty. This Award is a testimony to their skills, dedication and commitment. The visit marks a crowning moment for Thermoteknix as we celebrate and prepare for the year ahead with new product launches and expansion of our work force.

“The King’s Awards are one of the UK’s most prestigious awards and to have had the pleasure of a visit from The Princess Royal for its presentation is a massive honour which will be a lifelong memory for every one of our team at Thermoteknix.”

Related

Record-breaking August rounds off Stansted’s busiest ever summer
Stansted Terminal Security entrance.
Record-breaking August rounds off Stansted’s busiest ever summer
Whilst welcoming over 100,000 passengers on every day of August, London Stansted Airport achieved its busiest ever day, month and summer on record.
Aerospace

16 Sep 2026

UK MOD accelerates low-cost drone turbojet development with Alloyed
Image: MOD Crown Copyright
UK MOD accelerates low-cost drone turbojet development with Alloyed
A new UK-developed turbojet engine has reached flight-ready status in less than seven months, highlighting the potential of advanced manufacturing to accelerate defence propulsion.
Aerospace Defence Test

16 Sep 2026

Airlines should cover full climate cost if Heathrow expands, CCC says
London Heathrow
Airlines should cover full climate cost if Heathrow expands, CCC says
The Climate Change Committee says Heathrow expansion is not compatible with UK Net Zero targets. It calls for aviation to pay the cost of removing CO2.
Aerospace

16 Sep 2026

MSI-DS launches TERRAHAWK RAPTOR mobile counter-drone weapon station
MSI-DS unveiled the TERRAHAWK RAPTOR during the opening day of DVD2026 on 16 September 2026. This RWS is optimised for C-UAS operations. Image: MSI-DS
MSI-DS launches TERRAHAWK RAPTOR mobile counter-drone weapon station
The new TERRAHAWK RAPTOR remote weapon station is designed for integration across tracked and wheeled platforms, including 4x4 vehicles and UGVs, as MSI-DS targets growing demand for mobile C-UAS capability.
Defence Security

16 Sep 2026

NP Aerospace secures new protected cab order
Protected cab
NP Aerospace secures new protected cab order
With its latest order for protected vehicle cabs, NP Aerospace has taken its total protected cab order book to over 60 units.
Defence Member News

16 Sep 2026

Scottish defence sector faces skills shortfall and ‘debanking’ concerns, MPs warn
The UK's first Type 26 frigate, HMS Glasgow (F88), is seen under construction at BAE Systems' shipyard in Govan, Scotland, on 29 June 2021. Image: MOD Crown Copyright/Jack Eckersley
Scottish defence sector faces skills shortfall and ‘debanking’ concerns, MPs warn
A new report from the Scottish Affairs Committee has highlighted skills shortages, supply chain barriers and the ongoing ‘debanking’ of defence SMEs as challenges to Scotland’s ability to capitalise on increased UK defence investment.
Defence

16 Sep 2026

Harwell-based Open Cosmos secures €300m to scale sovereign satellite production
Open Cosmos
Harwell-based Open Cosmos secures €300m to scale sovereign satellite production
Harwell-based Open Cosmos has raised €300m to expand satellite manufacturing and space-based intelligence as the UK strengthens sovereign capability.
Defence Space

16 Sep 2026

AccelerComm awarded ESA regenerative 5G satellite network contract
5G NTN
AccelerComm awarded ESA regenerative 5G satellite network contract
The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected AccelerComm to help build one of Europe's first regenerative 5G base stations that directly run onboard satellites, shifting away from today's 'bent-pipe' satellites that simply relay signals back to the ground.
Member News Space

15 Sep 2026

The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
ADS Advance magazine - the drone age- is out today
The Drone Age: What does the UK need to get right?
Leading experts examine where UK drone capability is advancing, where gaps remain and what industry and government need to fix next.
MSI-DS launches TERRAHAWK RAPTOR mobile counter-drone weapon station
MSI-DS unveiled the TERRAHAWK RAPTOR during the opening day of DVD2026 on 16 September 2026. This RWS is optimised for C-UAS operations. Image: MSI-DS
MSI-DS launches TERRAHAWK RAPTOR mobile counter-drone weapon station
The new TERRAHAWK RAPTOR remote weapon station is designed for integration across tracked and wheeled platforms, including 4x4 vehicles and UGVs, as MSI-DS targets growing demand for mobile C-UAS capability.
Defence Security

16 Sep 2026

UK recruits hundreds of officers in £500 billion money laundering crackdown
Home Office
UK recruits hundreds of officers in £500 billion money laundering crackdown
Following National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates that over £100 billion is laundered through UK or UK corporate structures each year, 500 officers will target money laundering networks linked to organised crime, building on Operation Destabilise.
Security

16 Sep 2026

Defence and industry open collaboration hub at RAF Wyton
FAIRFAX Collaboration Hub at RAF Wyton
Defence and industry open collaboration hub at RAF Wyton
The new FAIRFAX Collaboration Hub has been opened at RAF Wyton by defence and industry partners, marking a key step in its growth as the UK's intelligence hub.