Phasor, developer of enterprise-grade electronically-steered antenna (ESA) systems, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus through its Network for the Sky (NFTS) programme. The MoU will see the companies working together to adapt Phasor’s commercial-off-the-shelf aeronautical electronically steerable antenna (A-ESA), which is already in development, for use on governmental air-transport aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The ESA will deliver mobile broadband connectivity across multiple platforms, supporting high bandwidth data communications with Ku-band satellites in both commercial GEO and LEO orbits and will also include an integrated radome, as a single line replaceable unit.
“We are very pleased to be working with Airbus to address the needs of this important user community,” said David Helfgott, CEO of Phasor.
Phasor’s aero ESA is designed to have a lightweight, ultra-low profile design, and the company says it is well suited to support traditional fixed satellite networks, high throughput satellites and non-geosynchronous satellite networks.
The aim behind NFTS is to connect airborne assets together with the rest of operations, over a mix of technologies to form one, resilient, high-speed global network, and set the foundation for connected airborne network-centric operations. Airbus plans for NFTS to be fully operational by 2020.
