SatNow recently interviewed David Díez, Managing Director at ERZIA and focused on Business Development and R&D. After working as a research engineer in electronics and RF & Microwave technologies in France and Spain, he joined ERZIA in 2005. His technical background enables him to work very closely with the engineering team and his business background helps focus on actionable business development strategies. He is also a key contact point for our main customers, with a strong commitment towards customer service and satisfaction. He earned his MSc in Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Cantabria of Spain, a MBA from CEREM Business School and a Master in Senior Management from the University Rey Juan Carlos of Madrid.
Q. What is ERZIA’s New Space COTS product line, and how is it designed for modern space applications?
David Diez: Our New Space COTS product line is a family of RF and microwave amplifier modules developed specifically for next-generation satellite missions. It includes both high-power amplifiers (HPAs) and low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), designed to deliver proven RF performance while meeting the environmental demands of space.
These products are based on our existing COTS amplifier portfolio, but have been enhanced with features such as radiation tolerance, vacuum-compatible packaging, and improved environmental robustness. The goal is to provide satellite developers with reliable, mission-ready RF hardware that can be deployed much faster and more cost-effectively than traditional space-qualified components.
Q. What specifically led ERZIA to develop this new product line at this point in time?
David Diez: ERZIA has been active in the traditional space market for over 20 years, and in parallel has built a catalogue of more than 300 COTS RF modules - primarily Power Amplifiers and LNAs. The New Space line is the direct result of combining those two bodies of experience: space heritage applied to a COTS development model. The objective is to deliver the reliability features that the New Space market actually requires without the cost and schedule overhead of traditional space qualification programs and without the risk exposure of standard commercial-grade components operating in space environments.
Q. How are these amplifiers specifically engineered for New Space environments?
David Diez: The –NS series introduces targeted enhancements that make these modules far more suitable for space deployment compared to standard COTS devices:
- Radiation-tolerant design up to 30 Krad and 32 MeV-cm2/mg
- Vacuum-compatible housings with controlled depressurization
- Pure-tin mitigation
- Low outgassing materials for orbital environments
- Automotive-grade passives to improve resilience under vibration, shock, and thermal cycling
- Built-in test validation across temperature extremes
These are not incremental changes - they directly address the failure mechanisms typically seen when commercial electronics are exposed to space conditions.
Q. How does this product line differ from both off-the-shelf upscreened components and traditional custom upscreening used in space programs?
David Diez: Upscreening is a valid approach for discrete components such as resistors, transistors, passives but it becomes increasingly impractical at the module level, where a single unit may contain hundreds of individual components. The deeper issue is that a standard COTS module was not designed with the space environment as a constraint. Upscreening it after the fact addresses some failure modes but cannot compensate for fundamental design decisions made without considering radiation, thermal cycling, or vacuum operation. Our New Space modules are designed from the outset for these conditions. That design-level integration is what separates them from both standard upscreened COTS and from traditional space-qualified hardware: they carry the relevant reliability features without the overhead of a full space qualification program.
Q. How does the –NS line balance performance with reliability?
David Diez: From an RF standpoint, the performance of the –NS amplifiers closely mirrors our commercial COTS equivalents. This means customers get high-quality gain, noise figure, power output and linearity characteristics that are already well understood.
Where the –NS line differentiates itself is in environmental robustness. We’ve engineered these modules to maintain that RF performance under space-specific stresses—radiation exposure, vacuum operation, and extreme temperature cycling—without requiring the full overhead of traditional space qualification.
Q. From a cost perspective, how does the –NS line compare with fully upscreened or space-qualified alternatives?
David Diez: A standard upscreened COTS module has been exposed to a defined set of environmental tests to characterize its survival and reliability. If radiation testing is added to that process, the -NS line becomes more cost-effective, faster to procure, and removes a risk that the COTS route cannot eliminate: the module may simply fail the test. Against fully space-qualified hardware, the cost gap is substantial depending on the program, a traditional space-qualified amplifier can run up to 100 × the price of a COTS equivalent, with lead times of one to two years. The -NS line sits closer to COTS pricing than to that ceiling, with delivery measured in weeks.
Q. How should engineers determine whether standard COTS components are sufficient for LEO missions, or if upscreening and space qualification are required?
David Diez: The decision is driven primarily by mission profile, and specifically by the risk-versus-budget trade-off. For short-duration missions days rather than months or where a given module is non-critical to mission success, standard COTS with basic environmental testing is a defensible choice. As mission duration increases, orbital altitude rises, or the module's role becomes critical, radiation tolerance becomes the dominant variable. That is where the -NS line is positioned: it covers the range where standard COTS is insufficient but a full space qualification program is neither justified nor affordable. For missions with high total ionizing dose requirements above roughly 50-100 krad TID or designed for operational lifetimes exceeding 10 years, traditional space-qualified hardware remains the appropriate solution.
Q. Does this mean standard COTS amplifiers are no longer viable for space missions?
David Diez: Not necessarily. In fact, many of our standard COTS amplifiers have already flown successfully in LEO missions.
However, as missions become more complex and risk tolerance decreases, developers are looking for higher confidence levels. The –NS series provides that additional assurance - particularly for longer missions, higher orbits, or constellations where reliability and repeatability are critical.
Q. These modules are not “fully space-qualified.” How should engineers interpret that?
David Diez: The –NS line is not positioned as traditional space-qualified hardware with full qualification campaigns, which typically involve long timelines and high costs. These are enhanced COTS modules — they incorporate design and testing principles drawn from space hardware standards, including MIL-STD-810F for environmental testing and ECSS-Q-ST-70-02 for vacuum compatibility and outgassing, among others. For customers who require full qualification, we can support custom programs. The –NS line is the right solution for missions where speed and cost are as important as reliability.
Q. Speed is critical in New Space. How does ERZIA address delivery timelines?
David Diez: Lead time is one of the biggest differentiators. Traditional space-qualified components can take years to deliver.
With the –NS line, we offer delivery timelines ranging from as little as 3 days to 18 weeks, depending on the product and configuration. This allows satellite developers to iterate faster, validate designs earlier, and keep up with aggressive launch schedules.
Q. What level of testing and documentation is provided with these modules?
David Diez: Each unit is delivered with a comprehensive Acceptance Test Report covering three temperature points as standard. This ensures that customers have validated performance data across realistic operating conditions.
Beyond that, we can provide additional screening, reliability data, and custom test campaigns depending on mission requirements. This flexibility is key for developers who need tailored validation without committing to full qualification processes upfront.
In addition, ERZIA always offer a strong post-delivery support to our customers including quick reaction answering for integration doubts and a consolidated structure to solve possible incidences.
Q. How does ERZIA handle export and regulatory considerations for these products?
David Diez: All products are manufactured in Spain and comply with EU and Spanish export regulations. All -NS products can be exported without license to the European Union, United States, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom, and Switzerland. All LNAs and a significant portion of HPAs can also be exported without license to customers worldwide not subject to EU embargo. Only certain higher-power amplifiers may require an export license for destinations outside that list.
Q. How should engineers decide whether standard COTS components are sufficient for a mission, or if screening, upscreened components, or New Space-ready products like yours are required?
David Diez: It ultimately comes down to mission requirements, including orbit, mission duration, risk tolerance, and system criticality.
For many LEO missions - especially short-duration or cost-sensitive programs—standard COTS components can be sufficient, and have already been successfully deployed. However, as mission complexity increases, or when higher reliability and longer lifetimes are required, additional screening or more robust, space-ready solutions become important.
Our New Space COTS product line is designed to sit between these two extremes. It provides enhanced robustness and environmental readiness compared to standard COTS, without the cost and long timelines associated with fully space-qualified or custom upscreened components. This allows engineers to choose the right balance between performance, risk, cost, and speed depending on their specific mission profile.
Q. What kind of market response have you seen so far to the –NS product line?
David Diez: The response has exceeded expectations. The -NS line was officially launched eight months ago, and we have already delivered hundreds of units to dozens of customers across multiple countries. To meet demand, we are expanding manufacturing capacity with a new facility opening this autumn. The product roadmap extends beyond amplifiers to include filters and switches under the -NS line.
Conclusion
ERZIA’s –NS series represents a significant step toward redefining RF hardware for the New Space era. By combining proven COTS architectures with targeted enhancements for space environments, the company is enabling satellite developers to achieve faster deployment cycles without sacrificing reliability—addressing one of the most critical bottlenecks in modern space system design.
About David Diez
David Díez is Managing Director at ERZIA and focused on Business Development and R&D. After working as a research engineer in electronics and RF & Microwave technologies in France and Spain, he joined ERZIA in 2005. His technical background enables him to work very closely with the engineering team and his business background helps focus on actionable business development strategies. He is also a key contact point for our main customers, with a strong commitment towards customer service and satisfaction. He earned his MSc in Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Cantabria of Spain, a MBA from CEREM Business School and a Master in Senior Management from the University Rey Juan Carlos of Madrid.
