The demonstrated high-performance solution leverages
phased-array antenna and ultra-fast-roaming capabilities between
satellites to support critical manned and unmanned C2/ISR
government missions
LUXEMBOURG, Feb. 8, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- SES, ThinKom and Hughes demonstrated revolutionary
high-performance multi-orbit service capable of supporting multiple
solutions for government airborne missions, the companies announced
today. The open architecture ThinKom ThinAir Ka2517 airborne
satcom terminal was successfully demonstrated over SES's Medium
Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geostationary (GEO) satellite networks during
testing at ThinKom's Hawthorne,
CA, facilities and on an aircraft in Mojave, CA. To enable roaming across the
satellites, the architecture included the Hughes Network Systems
software-defined ruggedized HM400 airborne modem. The testing
validated the formal release of the latest ThinAir Ka2517 software,
interfacing with the Hughes HM400 modem for MEO and GEO
operations.
The latest generation Ka2517 antenna is designed for full
commercial Ka-band and mil-Ka band satellites operating over 17.7 –
21.2 GHz (forward link) and 27.5 - 31 GHz (return link), providing
governments and the military with broad airborne communications
capabilities.
The Ka2517 is based on ThinKom's field-proven patented VICTS
(Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub) phased-array
technology, that has proven its unparalleled spectral efficiency
and reliability with installations on over 1,600 commercial
aircraft or more than 33 million operating hours, over eight years
of service. The Ka2517 is operational on SES's GEO satellite
services and the innovative high-throughput SES-17 satellite. The
antennas have also been providing continuous service on U.S.
government aircraft for five years, and boast a very low profile,
minimizing drag and increasing time on station. The new
demonstrated MEO and GEO capability enables industry-leading
performance and multi-orbit resiliency for critical mission
success, especially in contested environments.
"As the industry shifts towards a multi-orbit model to boost
performance and resiliency, ThinKom is leading the way with a
flexible open architecture platform to support connectivity from
every orbit to every mission," said Bill
Milroy, ThinKom's co-founder and Chief Technical Officer.
"We are proud to be flying in continuous service on U.S. government
aircraft since 2018 and look forward to extending that partnership
with the next generation of ThinAir solutions."
"The demonstrated architecture leveraging the phased-array
antenna and open-standards modem has the versatility to
interoperate with satellites in GEO and non-geostationary (NGSO)
orbits, ensuring global connectivity that meets the governments'
Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) requirements for
multi-orbit operations," said Will
Tong, Vice President of Strategic Government Initiatives and
head of the Aero ISR market at SES. "This demo showcases that
through our partners' and SES's innovative satellite technology,
such as the O3b mPOWER system, we can address the rapidly growing
sensor needs and future-proof tomorrow's fleets of C2/ISR aircraft
programs, enabling manned and unmanned ISR and C2 high-workload
missions."
"The success of the Joint All Domain Command and Control mission
depends on secure, resilient and reliable high-bandwidth satellite
communications," said Rick Lober,
vice president and general manager of Hughes Defense and Government
Systems Division. "In cooperation with SES, ThinKom and others,
Hughes continues to deliver innovative software defined modem
technology for missions around the globe, ensuring comprehensive,
efficient service delivery for our warfighters."
At the start of operation, SES's O3b mPOWER MEO system featuring
thousands of high-performance, low-latency steerable spot beams,
will provide truly uncontended seamless connectivity service for
sending and receiving high-volume data and unlock full access to
real-time information, high-resolution images and video for
government airborne missions.
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About SES
SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing
experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality
video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world.
As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES
operates the world's only multi-orbit constellation of satellites
with the unique combination of global coverage and high
performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium
Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent,
cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality
connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and
is a trusted partner to the world's leading telecommunications
companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and
cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and
content owners. SES's video network carries ~8,000 channels and has
an unparalleled reach of 366 million households, delivering managed
media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company
is listed on Paris and
Luxembourg stock exchanges.
Further information is available at: www.ses.com.
About ThinKom Solutions, Inc.
ThinKom Solutions, Inc.,
is a leading provider of innovative, ultra-low-profile broadband
antenna solutions for government and military aviation
applications, delivering fast, resilient, and reliable connectivity
across a broad range of mission profiles. The ThinAir® product line
delivers X-, Ku-, Ka-, Q- and V-band connectivity options suitable
for installation on aircraft ranging from small executive
transports to large cargo aircraft and is compatible with GSO and
NGSO constellations. ThinAir antennas consume less power while
delivering high spectral efficiency and greater throughput for a
given channel bandwidth. Packaged in a low-drag design to save fuel
or increase time on station, ThinAir's proven, proprietary,
patented solutions are trusted by leading inflight connectivity
providers and government customers around the globe.
About Hughes
Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar
(Nasdaq: SATS) company, provides broadband equipment and services;
managed services featuring smart, software-defined networking; and
end-to-end network operation for millions of consumers, businesses,
governments and communities worldwide. The Hughes flagship internet
service, HughesNet®, connects millions of people across the
Americas, and the Hughes JUPITER™ System powers internet access for
tens of millions more worldwide. Hughes supplies more than half the
global satellite terminal market to leading satellite operators,
in-flight service providers, mobile network operators and military
customers. A managed network services provider, Hughes supports
half a million enterprise sites with its HughesON™ portfolio of
wired and wireless solutions. To learn more, visit
http://www.hughes.com or follow HughesConnects on Twitter and
LinkedIn.
©2023 Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar company. Hughes
and HughesNet are registered trademarks and JUPITER is a trademark
of Hughes Network Systems, LLC.
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SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC