Armada’s monthly roundup of all the latest news in the military communications product, programme and operational domains.
New OneWeb Backpack Terminal
In early February Eutelsat announced the launch of Intellian’s OW7MP Satellite Communications (SATCOM) backpack terminal for use with the former’s OneWeb network of broadband low earth orbit communications satellites. The terminal will be made available to Eutelsat government and defence customers requiring this connectivity, according to a press release. The document stated that the OW7MP features “one-touch network acquisition”. It can be used in environments where Global Navigation Satellite System Position, Navigation and Timing signals are unavailable. This is due to the use of the proprietary AstraPNT architecture embedded in the terminal. OneWeb provides Ku-band connectivity for SATCOM terminals across downlink frequencies of 10.7 gigahertz/GHz to 12.7GHz, and uplink on a 14GHz to 14.5GHz waveband. Ka-band connectivity to satellite network portals is furnished with Ka-band links of 17.8GHz to 20.2GHz and 27.5GHz to 30GHz. Eutelsat told Armada in a written statement that OW7MP terminals are now available for order, although declined to share the identities of customers and order sizes to date.
Global Invacom launches XY Terminals
Global Invacom revealed its new XY antenna satellite communications terminals via a press release in late February. The company stated that the new terminals are available in four antenna sizes; 0.98 metres/m, 1.2m, 1.8m and 2.4m. According to the press release “the rapid‑deploy XY antennas feature a highly modular, no‑tools assembly, allowing systems to be deployed, calibrated and operational in under fifteen minutes”. The antennas integrate a single “IP67‑rated mechanical housing with an internal cable raceway, ensuring repeatable accuracy and orthogonality across all pointing angles, even in harsh field conditions”. The terminals’ pedestal and antenna control unit supports “multiple operating modes including one‑button auto‑acquire, inclined‑orbit tracking, programmed tracking with closed‑loop signal optimisation and automated calibration via advanced search algorithms”. Bob Potter, the company’s chief technology officer, told Armada that the terminals can facilitate C-band (5.925 gigahertz/GHz to 6.425GHz uplink/3.7GHz to 4.2GHz downlink), X-band (7.9Ghz to 8.4GHz uplink/7.25GHz to 7.75GHz downlink), Ka-band (14GHz uplink/10.9GHz to 12.75GHz downlink) and Ku-band (26.5GHz to 40GHz uplink/18GHz to 20GHz downlink) links. Mr Potter continued that the new terminals work with low-Earth orbit, mid-Earth orbit and geostationary constellations. Sales of the terminals to European customers have been concluded, although the company declined to identify customers citing confidentiality.
by Dr. Thomas Withington
