TE Connectivity Sees Surging Demand for its Products Across Sectors

TE Connectivity, which has brought a wide range of new products to the ongoing Paris Air Show, has seen a significant increase in demand for its connectivity and sensor solutions across space, the urban air mobility sector, commercial aviation, and defence.

“We have a host of new rugged high-power connectors for various commercial air and electric air applications, an expanded portfolio in our embedded computing solutions, and new solid state power controllers,” says Martin Cullen, senior manager of business development at TE Connectivity. “TE Connectivity’s new MULTIGIG HD connector was recently selected by the VITA Standards Organization (VSO) as the Next-Generation VPX plug-in module connector and will become a defence industry standard. The new MULTIGIG HD connector design will be incorporated into the VITA 100 Next-Generation VPX system architecture used widely across rugged embedded computing systems in the defence industry.

In an interview, Cullen speaks about the company’s long association with space programs, the use of its products in the advanced air mobility sector, and the different ways in which its products enhance passenger comfort on commercial aircraft.

How long have the company’s products been used in space applications? How common are the company’s products in satellites and launch vehicles?

TE Connectivity traces its legacy of mission-critical components as far back as Explorer 1. That innovation continues today with the development of SpaceVPX, European Space Components Coordination (ESCC), NASA specifications and standards, as well as MIL-SPEC compliant products that enable the latest space missions. From satellites and launchers to lunar landers and rovers to space stations and defense applications, TE experts enable designs that reliably withstand the toughest deadlines, challenges, and environments imaginable.

TE products have been a part of multiple space missions including the Apollo LEM and Voyager missions and currently as a key supplier, enabling technology on some of the most important telecoms satellites being launched today with high-speed data connectivity.

What are some of the major space programs that TE Connectivity has been a part of as a supplier of components?

TE Connectivity components were used in the first lunar rovers deployed in the early 1970s (Apollo LEM) and continue to be used today. TE’s HARTMAN 100 ampere relays (N422DG) and 50 ampere relays (N218DG) have been to the moon. HARTMAN contacts deliver high performance in a ruggedized form that’s a fraction of the size of typical industrial control products used on Earth.

TE’s KILOVAC K40P high-voltage relays have been used on NASA’s Curiosity Rover on Mars and on the BepiColombo spacecraft designed for route to Mercury. KILOVAC relays are also used throughout the International Space Station and continue to be used extensively in space satellite programs.

Additionally, TE’s KILOVAC CAP120 high-voltage contactors, ESA qualified SPEC 55 wires, DBAS connectors, RF connectors, and MICRODOT coaxial connectors are in use on India's Chandrayaan-3 mission which landed on the moon in September 2023.

TE supplied the James Webb Space Telescope with TE’s Raychem SPEC 55 military grade cable, fluoropolymer heat shrink tubing and solder sleeve devices for the connectivity components of the fine guidance sensor. Raychem cables are used on Parker Solar Probe, the fasted artificial object. There are many other commercial programmes that NDAs prevent us from sharing.

Interest in space has peaked. Does that reflect in the volume of your company’s business in that sector?

Market growth reports suggest double digit growth across emerging sub-segments not seen before in space. This offers TE new challenges and opportunities with new customers. The space industry is constantly expanding and evolving, and we have seen an increase in momentum across the public and commercial sectors, which is reflected in demand for our broad portfolio of space-qualified and space-compatible connectivity solutions.

We are seeing growth in high-speed connectors particularly RFO, and in the future expect to see growth in high power relays (Kilovac) for space stations and other novel applications. There is a need for high power in space.

What are some of the distinguishing features of the company’s space products, when compared to those for other industries such as defence and commercial aviation?

While durability, reliability, and accountability are critical to performance in every industry, the requirements in space are significantly higher. From launch to sustained orbit, a vehicle must withstand many unforgiving challenges, including extreme acceleration levels, high vibration, wide temperature cycles, outgassing, and harsh radiation exposure, extreme temperature gradients from the sun exposed side to the shadow side, of several hundred degrees.

Our space-qualified connectors, fiber optics, sensors, relays, and cables are built to withstand the demands of space, and our deep experience in space, aerospace, and military applications allows us to deliver rugged, purpose-built products for ultimate reliability in safety-critical and mission-critical operations.

Key Advanced Air Mobility Partner

Advanced air mobility is a nascent industry. How is TE Connectivity helping eVTOL developers? What are some of your most in-demand products in the sector?

We have been working very closely with the leaders in eVTOL for many years, since they started. We help them select the most appropriate component for their applications, and create concept design of potential new products to suit their needs. This has led us to develop the 987 connector and Rayflite wire. Other products include SHF260 wire for high voltage power distribution, K1K, (rated 1000A, 1000v) flight certified high power relay as well as ourK250, CAP120, and other solid-state relays for battery pack charging management.

As we move from eVTOL and small electric aircraft, to regional aircraft for 20-90 passengers we need to make the jump from kilowatts to megawatts. We’re researching power solutions (particular cables that need to withstand HV at high altitude) to be at the forefront of power management for electrification when the industry makes that jump. We’re partnering with companies and researchers to solve some of these problems through R&D.

From power distribution to in-flight entertainment and cabin features, TE experts are directly involved in helping designers “follow the wire” to select the appropriate advanced and urban air mobility solutions to lighten the load, save space, and boost performance.

The focus of eVTOL and eCTOL developers is in reducing weight to maximise flight time. How does the company’s products help air taxi manufacturers achieve that?

Minimizing gross takeoff weight (Wgto), which includes reducing the weight of avionic systems and related interconnects and cabling, is critical to making Urban Air Mobility (UAM) a reality. Lighter, advanced interconnects and cabling can make a significant contribution to weight reductions in UAM aircraft, despite being only a fraction of the total electrical/electronic-component weight. For instance, we have developed special lightweight insulation that with highly flexible cable (Rayflite HV power cables). We are currently developing high power connectors to use lightweight composite shells instead of stainless steel or aluminium.

In what ways does TE Connectivity help airlines enhance passenger comfort on commercial aircraft?

The safety, comfort, and reliability in aircraft are by-products of an intricate network of power, avionics, flight control, electrical, and communications sub-assemblies.
For example, flexible interconnects support in-flight entertainment systems with smaller footprints. Fiber optics and nanominiature connectors in navigation and communication systems allow faster data transfer to guide wide- and narrow-body aircraft in congested commercial airspace. Next-gen fiber optics deliver increased capacity and lower latency to improve aircraft communication integrity.

Have you brought new products andcapabilities to the Paris Air Show?

We have a host of new rugged high-power connectors for various commercial air and electric air applications, an expanded portfolio in our embedded computing solutions, and new solid state power controllers.

Additionally, TE Connectivity’s MULTIGIG HD connector was recently selected by the VITA Standards Organization (VSO) as the Next-Generation VPX plug-in module connector and will become a defense industry standard. The redesigned MULTIGIG HD connector builds on the previous variants of TE’s MULTIGIG HD product family, while bringing significant technical advances including doubled pin count, 112 Gb/s data rates, increased current capacity and support for rugged environments. The release date is planned for mid-2025.
The VSO selection means the new MULTIGIG HD connector design will be incorporated into the VITA 100 Next-Generation VPX system architecture used widely across rugged embedded computing systems in the defense industry.

How important are innovation and R&D for the company?

At TE Connectivity, we help solve the world's toughest engineering challenges – so innovation and R&D are at the heart of everything we do. We focus on applying our decades of experience while working with today’s innovation leaders and technology entrepreneurs to solve tomorrow’s toughest challenges. We have a dedicated team of experienced engineers (Advanced Solutions and Architecture team) that work with customers to help them define their systems and identify new technology and products to solve our customers solutions.