Spacecom and Orbit Perform Airborne Trials with Orbit Terminals

Orbit MPT terminal. Photo: Orbit

Spacecom has revealed details of some trials its has done alongside Orbit Communication Systems evaluating connectivity speeds and performance of Orbit’s latest airborne terminals. The trials took place on Spacecom’s AMOS-17 digital Ka-band satellite. AMOS-17 is a high throughput satellite providing coverage over Africa and the Middle East.

The two companies announced Nov. 29 that Orbit’s MPT30 terminal delivered a 140 Mbps+ forward link and a 40 Mbps+ return link. Its MPT46 terminal was delivered and a 50 Mbps+ return link with ample fade margins. The MPT terminals maintained uninterrupted connectivity to the network during all flight simulation phases tested. The achieved data rates enable high-speed, high-resolution video and data in real time from multiple onboard sensors, according to the two companies.

Orbit’s modular, multi-role MPT30 and MPT46 terminals operate in both commercial and military Ka-band utilizing compact 30 cm or 46 cm antennas. The fully integrated terminal consists of a RF antenna assembly (including all RF components), a Ka-band power supply unit and a modem unit, with the aim of making them easy to install and service while located at the avionics bay, on the fuselage or tail-mounted to support mission aircraft, unmanned airborne vehicles (UAVs) and rotary wing platforms.

“With the takeoff of exciting and sophisticated airborne connectivity, Spacecom’s advanced AMOS-17 satellite meets our customers’ needs for top performance, uninterrupted and extensive on-demand coverage. Working with the Orbit teams expands even further Spacecom On-The-Move offering, paving the way for innovation and cutting-edge solutions to enable greater value to the industry,” Ofer Asif, SVP of Business Development, Strategy and Marketing, Spacecom, said in a statement.