USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) pierside in Pearl Harbor during a port visit in 2019. Photo: U.S. Navy

The U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) selected Ball Aerospace to develop a prototype of a new multi-band, low-observable satellite communications antenna to be installed on the U.S. Navy‘s newest stealth ships, the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers. This is part of the DIU’s Multi-Domain Tactical Communications (MDTC) program.

Ball is leveraging its portfolios of electronically steerable phased array antenna technologies and stealth technologies to design a solution that can operate over multiple frequency bands, meet existing signature requirements, and integrate into the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer.

“We are pleased to partner with DIU and the U.S. Navy to explore ways to quickly and cost-effectively increase the capabilities of the DDG 1000,” said Dr. Jake Sauer, vice president and general manager, Tactical Solutions, Ball Aerospace. “Our multi-band, multi-beam phased array heritage and conformal antenna expertise directly supports the warfighter by addressing emerging threats and taking on new missions.”