X Band Satellite Communications Terminal
Overview
The X-band Satellite Communications on-the-move broadband antenna system is a low-profile, dual-axis mechanically steered, satellite tracking antenna. Designed to give customers ultimate flexibility, the system was developed to support airborne or ground-based communications on-the-move applications over the major X-band constellations including Wideband Global Satellite Communications, Skynet and XTAR, as well as other current and future spacecraft hosting X-band payloads. While utilizing two interleaved, wideband apertures for simultaneous, full duplex Tx/Rx, the X-band antenna system enables the ability to switch right/left hand circular polarizations for both Rx and Tx. The antenna’s low profile reduces the size of traditional dish reflector radomes used for similarly capable X-band communications by nearly half and can be shaped as conformal to an allocated swept volume as necessary. Key Benefits:
- Small, lightweight, low profile minimizes drag and fuel consumption improving time on station; only 55 pounds with a swept volume diameter of 31" and height of 11.5"
- Slot array design can be made conformal to nearly any allocated area while tightly controlling the resulting beam patterns
- Separate, interleaved Tx/Rx apertures utilize alternating slots and achieve high Tx/Rx isolation
- Performance equivalent to a 40 cm dish but with a lower profile 10" x 20" aperture
- Dual-axis mechanical positioner with no scan loss for constant gain regardless of azimuth or elevation angle
- Optional polarization switching enables ease-of-handoff between separate constellations with opposite polarizations
- Dynamic stabilization suitable for either airborne or ground mobile applications
- Supports either ARINC 429 or autonomous navigation modes
