First MilSatCom/GX Maritime Terminal Developed
Inmarsat announced a new partnership with EM Solutions to develop the world’s first combined MilSatCom/Global Xpress (GX) maritime satcom terminal. The new terminal is scheduled to receive full Inmarsat accreditation during Q2 2016 and will be submitted for Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) certification.
The new terminal, which is initially being created for an Australian Government customer, will contain a number of innovative features, including tracking via monopulse technology and easy switching between GX and MilSatCom systems, Inmarsat said, adding that the terminal will also be substantially lighter, lower cost and faster than any comparable MilSatCom device.
Based on its land mobile terminal for the Ka-band, EM Solutions is also contracted to deliver a simultaneous X-band/Ka-band maritime terminal for another customer, which provided the baseline reference for the new program in conjunction with Inmarsat.
EM Solutions has adopted an innovative approach to the development of its satellite terminals, adopting monopulse tracking techniques that provide exceptional accuracy and stability in addition to reducing the demand on motors and other moving parts, which minimizes power, weight and operational stress.
As a specialized developer of RF components and subsystems for the Satcom industry, the new terminals will use EM Solution’s Diamond Series Ka Mulitband Block Up Converters, which utilise the latest in Gallium nitride (GaN) technology and cover both commercial and military Ka frequency bands in a highly efficient, single package.
This family of maritime terminals is known as the COBRA series and will be further developed for other capabilities in the near future.
