Tampa Microwave Delivers Multi-Orbit Terminal with O3b mPOWER-Certified Upgrade

  • Americas
  • United States
  • Defence
  • Type News In Brief
  • Published

Tampa Microwave, a subsidiary of Thales Defense & Security, Inc. and leading provider of tactical satellite communications (SATCOM) systems, is proud to announce that the Tampa 1.3-meter terminal has successfully achieved SES’s O3b mPOWER certification, allowing the terminal to access the high-throughput low-latency Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellation. This MEO capability provides military and government users another communications option in an increasingly contested and congested environment. This achievement marks a significant milestone allowing O3b mPOWER access for Tampa’s state-of-the-art Raider Vanguard branded MEO-tracking upgrade kit.

This certification facilitates MEO use on the company’s proven parabolic terminal into a field-upgradable, multi-orbit system, offering users an upgrade kit to quickly switch between Geostationary and MEO satellite constellations based on mission requirements. The upgrade delivers low-latency, high-throughput performance along with enhanced communications resilience and operational flexibility.

The certification reflects Thales’ continued investment in engineering innovative solutions and partnerships that bring interoperability, modulatory and adaptability to SATCOM platforms. With more than 2,000 1.3m terminals deployed across the U.S. Army and Special Operations Command, the Raider Vanguard upgrade kit provides a cost-effective, future-ready solution to enhance and extend the value of current systems.

“This has been a great partnership with SES. We are excited about the opportunity for the Army and SOCOM to upgrade existing fielded terminals with this new capability. It not only supports near-term modernization goals, but also aligns with long-term efforts to build a more resilient, flexible, and sovereign communications architecture. This is the kind of adaptable innovation that ensures our warfighters remain connected and mission ready in any operational theater.”
Aaron Brosnan, President, Tampa Microwave