Inmarsat rolls out new terminal to support US airborne reconnaissance missions
LAISR ULW provides customers with data rate throughput to support BLOS communications, while further reducing total terminal SWaP. (Image: Inmarsat Government)
Inmarsat Government has announced the availability of a new-generation L-band Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Ultra-Lightweight (LAISR ULW) user terminal.
The terminal, consisting of a core module and antenna, is the latest addition to the company’s LAISR family. The ULW variant delivers access to full duplex, secure beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications via Inmarsat's global ELERA L-band network.
LAISR ULW provides customers with data rate throughput to support BLOS communications, while further reducing total terminal SWaP. It uses an integrated antenna self-steering capability, does not require external navigation data from the host platform and can operate in GPS-denied environments.
Related Articles
Inmarsat clinches Commercial Broadband Satellite Program work
AUSA 2022: MAG Aerospace and L3Harris propose converted commercial bizjet for US Army airborne ISR
General Atomics achieves AI flight milestone with Avenger UAV
LAISR ULW is enabled by the Black ICE Medium Software Defined Radio (SDR), which implements the Digital Video Broadcasting Satellite Second Generation (DVB-S2X) waveform in a low-SWaP form factor.
It also includes a Radio Frequency Front End (RFFE), which provides robust filtering capabilities including automatic terrestrial interference protection. LAISR ULW also leverages a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) terrestrial backbone to securely transport customer traffic from platform to destination.
Antenna options cover compact omni-directional patches to fuselage-mounted, high-gain, steered variants. The terminal can be implemented in standalone configuration or retrofitted to an existing aircraft.
Matt Wissler, CTO, Inmarsat Government, said: 'We built these solutions tailored specifically to meet our government customers’ mission-critical needs.
'The ULW terminal reflects upon their critical requirements for SATCOM-enabled BLOS connectivity and provides small UAS platforms (Group 2+) with a globally portable communications solution that provides high-rate return and maintains platform range to support ISR missions worldwide.'
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability moves ahead with development contracts
The Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) programme is a transnational effort across NATO to replace a range of helicopters which are expected to begin retiring from the mid-2030s.
-
Raytheon strikes deal with new rocket motor maker to secure supply chain
Raytheon has seen increased demand for its missiles in the face of the Russia-Ukraine war where Kyiv has been using air-to-air missiles for ground-based air-defence.
-
European Common Radar System Mk2 begins ground-testing in UK
BAE Systems hopes to work out any issues before the radar is sent for flight testing.
-
Boeing to upgrade software for KC-46A tanker
The KC-46A upgrades will improve the platform’s mission readiness, performance in challenged airspace and rapid deployment capabilities.
-
Dutch and Austrian governments collaborate on Embraer C-390 acquisition at Farnborough
The two nations will split the acquisition of the C-390s to boost their airlift capacities.