Air SatCom

Secure multi-orbit satellite communications solutions for all aircraft types

Air defence
Air combat
Collaborative combat

Thales's Air SatCom solutions are purpose-designed for airborne missions, ensuring maximum availability of secure, high-data-rate communications even in the most demanding environments.

Easy-to-integrate multi-orbit satellite communications solutions

A wide range of terminals

Thales solutions are designed for all types of platforms:
- Transport and tanker aircraft such as C-130 Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, Airbus 330 MRTT and , KC-135, etc.
- Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance aircraft such as Beechcraft King Air
- Rotary-wing platforms Helicopters such as UH-60/S-70 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook
- Unmanned Air Vehicles
Multi-orbit solutions

Thales offers two types of certified multi-orbit antennas to provide a high-data-rate communications capability in any situation. Mechanically scanned antennas support GEO, MEO and HEO constellations while Electronically Steerable Antennas (ESA) support GEO, MEO, LEO and HEO constellations. Both categories can use civilian and military Ka- and Ku-bands.
Quick Roll-On/Roll-Off

Thales SatCom terminals are designed for easy installation and removal to enhance system mobility between different platforms.
SWaP optimisation

Thales’s terminals are optimised in terms of Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) for easy installation on any type of airborne platforms.

With the growing amount and variety of data to be transmitted, especially in emergency situations, high-data-rate connectivity is now a critical function for military aircraft. For transmitting imagery, video or mission data to supporting flows of health information on MEDEVAC missions or even piloting drones from thousands of miles away, satellite communications offer a dependable solution in every situation.

In today’s hyper-connected world, the need for continuous connectivity stretches far beyond the confines of terrestrial borders, ascending into the skies with every flight. Thales’s Air SatCom solutions are natively multi-orbit to guarantee extensive coverage and connectivity. They include a full range of terminals for all airborne platforms and feature the highly secure Modem 21 Air Compact solution to counter even the most critical threats.

A wide range of terminals to fit all types of needs and platforms

Thales offers a range of tailored solutions for transport/tanker aircraft. The Sling Blade C-17 terminal (Ka-band) is ideal for the C-17 Globemaster III, the FlySAT terminal (Ka-band) equips the A330 MRTT and our ESA terminals are recommended for the KC-135. For the C-130, the Milli SAT Ex, Milli SAT W LW and Lesa Blade terminals (Ku- or Ka-bands) are all excellent options.

Mission aircraft such as Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms require high-performance antennas with the smallest form factor possible. Nano SAT H (Ka-band), Micro SAT LW (Ku- or Ka-bands), Milli SAT W LW (Ku- or Ka-bands) and Lesa Blade (Ku-band) are recommended for mission aircraft such as the Beechcraft King Air.

The Milli SAT H LW (Ku- or Ka-band) and ESA (Ku-band) multi-orbit terminals are compatible with helicopters such as UH-60/S-70 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook. The compact Lesa Blade (Ku-band) solution is also ideal for these platforms and is designed for easy integration with existing fuselage mount designs.

The Modem 21 Air Compact is part of Thales’s System 21 offering, the most secure high-speed and multi-waveform satcom transmission system on the market today. This advanced IP modem ensures the availability and security of communications even under extreme threats (jamming, interference, cyberattacks) and is valued for its Doppler mitigation performance for fast-moving platforms. Modem 21 Air Compact overcomes rotor-blade interference, making it suitable for installation on helicopters.