Astrium is promising an improved level of performance from airborne satellite communications systems with its lightweight AirPatrol airborne terminal, featuring carbon fibre construction and 20Mbps performance in a 16kg package that is small and light enough for use on most aircraft, including UAVs.

The carbon composites antennae dish permits a higher level of radio frequency (RF) path integration, resulting in better performance when compared with standard aluminium antennas.

Astrium claims 20Mbps data rates at X-band using the standard 60cm dish, in some cases provides at least three times the capacity of a standard antenna.

AirPatrol was designed for military uses, and may also be suitable for civil applications, such as emergency and rescue services or coast guard and border patrols.

It can operate on Ku, Ka and X bands, and be configured to operate as a communications platform for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR), or as a dual communications and control system providing beyond-line-of-sight control for the user.

Astrium satcoms director Aidan Joy says reliability of transmission and precision-pointing accuracy are key aspects of AirPatrol performance. The system was developed in anticipation of what Joy describes as an "important growth market" for satellite links to UAVs.

Source: Flight Daily News

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