ViaSat Inc. has successfully demonstrated full-mesh satellite communications at Ka-band between an Australian Army deployable 1.0 m Compact Transmit Receive Suite (CTRS) terminal located at the Defense Science and Technology Organization (DSTO) and a 48 cm communication-on-the-move (COTM) terminal located at BAE Systems Australia, using a ViaSat LinkWayS2™ MF-TDMA satellite modem. This demonstration further shows the ability of the LinkWayS2 modem to simultaneously support satellite communications with fixed site, at-the-halt and on-the-move terminals within a single tactical LinkWay® network.
The full-duplex mesh connection streamed high-definition video simultaneously in both directions between remote sites while the mobile SATCOM antenna was exercised on a multi-axis, full motion platform using the steerable Ka-band spot beam on the Optus C1 satellite. The LinkWayS2 master reference terminal for the demonstration originated from a fixed terminal with a DVB-S overlay sourced from another Ka transponder on Optus C1.
The LinkWay full-mesh communication system has been a satellite networking workhorse for US defense over many years and with the addition of this new COTM capability, will increase its ability to provide network-centric operations, particularly over the Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) constellation.
The COTM antenna was designed and developed as a concept technology demonstrator by EM Solutions Pty Ltd. based in Brisbane, Australia, under contract to DSTO and has been successfully tested on an Australian Bushmaster Personnel Mobility Vehicle (PMV).