Indra Group has launched an initiative to build Spain’s first domestic ecosystem for gallium nitride technology, aiming to strengthen the country’s capabilities in advanced defense electronics and communications systems. The program, known as GIGaNTE, is a research and development project valued at approximately nine million euros and supported by Spain’s Science and Innovation Missions Program. The initiative brings together companies and academic institutions to develop high-performance electronic devices capable of operating at demanding frequencies used in radar systems, communications networks, and electronic warfare technologies. Gallium nitride is considered a critical material for modern defense electronics because it enables more efficient, compact, and powerful electronic components compared with traditional semiconductor materials. The GIGaNTE project aims to create a complete domestic value chain for gallium nitride technology, covering everything from initial design and fabrication to system integration and final validation. This approach could allow Spain to produce advanced electronic modules and antenna systems that are smaller, more reliable, and capable of operating in high-frequency environments required for modern defense systems. Several industrial partners are participating in the initiative. Televes Corporación, SPARC Foundry, and RBZ Robot Design contribute expertise in electronics manufacturing, circuit design, and industrial production platforms. Meanwhile, research teams from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, the University of Vigo, the University of Salamanca, and the GRADIANT technology center will focus on gallium nitride architectures, device characterization, and circuit integration. The project aligns with Spain’s broader efforts to strengthen military communications and defense technology capabilities. In February 2025, the country launched SpainSat NG I, an advanced secure communications satellite supporting X-band, military Ka-band, and UHF frequencies used for long-range tactical operations. Later in October 2025, Spain placed SpainSat NG II into orbit to further expand secure communications coverage for Spanish forces and NATO allies. Earlier that year, Spanish Army radar units deployed to Romania supported NATO air surveillance missions, demonstrating the integration of advanced monitoring technologies within allied defense operations.
