ELECTRONICS firm Filtronic has been chosen as a research partner in Ministry of Defence (MoD) plans to develop centres of excellence in technology.

The semi-conductor company, which employs more than 250 people in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, manufactures transmitting chips for mobile phone base stations and antenna for hand- sets.

It also has contracts with firms including BAe Systems Avionics, with its wireless technology being used in products such as cockpit displays.

Defence Technology Centres (DTCs) are being funded by the MoD to the tune of up to £5m a year and are intended to be virtual centres of excellence in broad technology areas.

Filtronic has joined a consortium of firms involved in establishing a electromagnetic remote-sensing centre undertaking a programme of research aimed at enhancing the performance of sensing equipment.

The MoD says it will benefit from sources of expertise in specific areas of science and technology interest.

Partners in the DTCs are encouraged to make matching financial contributions and should see a return on their investment through the development of future defence equipment and wider civilian applications.

Lord Bach, Minister of Defence Procurement, said: "With our armed forces currently involved in operations in the Middle East the need for providing them with world-class equipment is uppermost in all of our minds.

"It is therefore especially important to have programmes in place that will help us to deliver the right technology at the right time.

"This initiative will help ensure that the MoD and our industrial and academic partners are well placed to help us deliver the necessary capabilities."

A spokesman for Filtronic said: "This is a purely research driven partnership. In the short term, at least, we expect to see very little revenue from it."