Hughes expands rotary-wing SATCOM capabilities, increases data throughput for ISR applications

GERMANTOWN, Md., 7 Sept. 2013. Hughes Network Systems LLC, a global provider of broadband satellite solutions and services, has advanced rotary-wing beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) satellite communications (SATCOM) capabilities with data throughputs of up to 10 megabits per second (Mbps) through rotor blades and over geostationary satellites to a remote HUB.

The advanced Hughes communications-on-the-move (COTM) microsat system can transmit critical video and sensor data with throughput five times greater than the company’s first release in March 2013. This capability can be adapted to various rotary platforms to enable critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data transmission ranges previously not attainable, officials say.

Employing advanced waveform technology, the Hughes rotary wing system enables transmissions through rotor blades over both Ka- and Ku-band satellite channels with zero packet loss. The solution operates with a variety of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) airborne antennas on government, military and commercial platforms, facilitating integration with existing systems for strategic ISR and tactical operations.

“Hughes delivers a system level solution, including the core modem and antenna technology together with worldwide Ka- or Ku-band connectivity through its satellite managed services network,” explains Rick Lober, vice president and general manager of Hughes Defense and Intelligence Systems Division. “We continue to improve speeds and testing with additional systems and antennas, resulting in a truly agile, flexible option for military, government, and commercial customers.”

The Hughes rotary wing system is based on the company’s advanced HX satellite broadband platform, which meets the Federal Information Processing (FIPS) 140-2, Level 2 encryption standard and Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) requirements.