ST Engineering iDirect’s EU Satcom Centre of Excellence, ST Engineering iDirect Europe, located in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, which specialises in the development of ground segment technology and equipment for the EU, is leading a consortium of leading satellite industry players to develop the European Protected Waveform (EPW) for the European Defence Fund (EDF).
In today’s military applications supported by satellite communications, high data rates, security, resilience, information assurance and link efficiency technologies are inextricably linked. Military operations are becoming more complex as conflict areas grow more dispersed on a global scale, with a growing need to support a diversity of on-the-move, on-the-pause and fixed platforms on land, in the air and at sea over both geostationary orbit and multi-orbit satellite constellations.
The EPW is built around four cornerstones: agile, secure, affordable and interoperable satellite communications. It will be developed in tandem with current and future requirements for military and secure operations considering upcoming disruptive technologies, EU initiatives such as GovSatCom and IRIS2, and multi-layered security and resiliency solutions.
Through the EDF initiative, the investment for an interoperable and affordable secure defence-grade EPW becomes accessible to small and mid-sized European nations alongside large EU nations seeking to embrace today’s and future challenges related to increased throughput demand over satellite, joint operations, mobility and new security threats.
Through disruptive, innovative technology coming from key stakeholders in EU industry and universities, the EPW addresses the growing demand for European autonomy linked to defence and space capabilities.
“The development of waveforms has always been part of our company’s DNA, and we aim to seek the best balance between efficiency, agility and security,” said Koen Willems, vice president, EU Programmes and Government Relations. “With their combined knowledge and experience, bringing together these key players under the EPW consortium will equip European countries with highly reliable, seamless satellite communications to ensure that they can communicate with confidence and security no matter where they operate.”