Higher Data Rates Will be Required for Security and Reliability

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), SES and Hughes Network Systems have collaborated to successfully demonstrate multi-orbit satellite communications, using an MQ-9B SkyGuardian UAS.

The demonstration, in California in October, used SES’ multi-orbit satcom service, leveraging high-throughput, low-latency medium-earth and geostationary orbits (MEO/GEO) fleet, and was powered by Hughes HM series software-defined modem and Hughes’ Resource Management System. “This demonstration proves the importance of next-generation satcom for operators of our aircraft,” said GA-ASI SVP for MQ-9 Systems, Fred Darlington. “As we expand into new and more intricate payloads for our RPA, we’ll require higher data rates that provide the bandwidth, security and robustness to operate our sensors.”

The demonstration used SES’ O3b MEO system, which provides fibre-like carrier-grade performance, scalability, and resilience, setting the path to widely leveraging open architectures and achieving network sovereignty, and was leveraged to show how UAS can maintain high-workload, mission-critical connectivity and resilience, even in contested environments. The connectivity service seamlessly roamed between O3b MEO and AMC-15 GEO satellites. Later this year, SES will be launching its second-generation MEO system, O3b mPOWER, to further support governments through unprecedented performance, waveform-agnostic service and enabling network sovereignty.

“Innovation is the key in supporting transformational changes in the ISR services, and this demonstration is one more example of how the industry can work together to bring something special to market,” said Will Tong, VP of Strategic Government Initiatives and head of the Aero ISR market at SES. “Together with GA-ASI, we were able to prove out new levels of secure, flexible and high-performance multi-orbit services for ISR, with 10x performance on a significantly smaller form factor, with increased resiliency and security for the end users.”

Integrated onto the MQ-9B, the milspec Hughes HM System modem (HM400) powered the MEO and GEO SATCOM with Low-Probability of Intercept/Low Probability of Detection (LPI/LPD) modes for the resiliency necessary in congested and contested environments. Together with the Hughes Resource Management System, the HM400 automatically optimized and switched satellite signals smoothly and within seconds, demonstrating a near real-time capability that enhances the military’s Primary Alternative Contingency Emergency (PACE) planning.

“Combined with the Hughes Resource Management System, the frequency-agnostic, open architecture HM system helps GA-ASI meet [its] military customer’s requirements for uninterrupted, high data rate, multi-orbit satcom, ensuring secure information accessibility for the right people at the right time,” added Hughes Defense VP/GM, Rick Lober.