Category Archives: Data Links & Communications

DARPA Wants More Flexible RF System for sUAS

darpaToday’s radio-frequency (RF) systems for radar, electronic warfare (EW) and communications use separate, dedicated hardware, software and antennas, making it difficult to fit all three functions on smaller platforms such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) because of the space and power required. Darpa is launching a program to develop an RF system capable of adaptively and flexibly switching among communications, radar and EW modes.

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Communication Range of 120 km by SpyLite Mini UAV

SpyLite

BlueBird Aero Systems Ltd – a designer and developer of combat-proven Micro, Mini and Small tactical UAS solutions and peripheral equipment – announced that its SpyLite Mini UAV, weighing only ~9 kg, has achieved an extraordinary communication range of 120 km, an outstanding achievement and a new world record in the Mini UAV category. Continue reading →

Automatic Beam Switching for UAS on Intelsat EpicNG


Intelsat General Corporation (IGC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Intelsat S.A., operator of the world’s first Globalized Network, powered by its leading satellite backbone, and L-3 Communication Systems-West (L-3 CS-West) has announced the successful demonstration of new automatic beam switching technology that enables Unmanned Airborne Systems (UAS) fitted with L-3 CS-West satellite communications packages to operate on Intelsat’s high-throughput satellite (HTS) platform, Intelsat EpicNG. Continue reading →