The Hughes solutions will support both ground- and air-based proof of concept testing.
Hughes Network Systems, a subsidiary of EchoStar, has announced a contract awarded by SES Space & Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES, to provide a flexible, software-defined, multi-orbit, auto-PACE solution and associated modems in support of SES Space & Defense’s and the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) programme.
The Hughes solution will facilitate resilient broadband connectivity utilising Ku- and Ka-band Geostationary (GEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations for various Comms on the Pause (COTP) and Comms on the Move (COTM) test scenarios.
Under the contract, Hughes will deliver its automated Network Management System (NMS), Enterprise Management and Control (EM&C) capabilities, along with its Smart Network Edge software. These will be integrated by the SES Space & Defense team with Hughes’ next-generation, software-defined HM100 and HM400 satellite modems, providing GEO and MEO connectivity. SES Space & Defense will also integrate a LEO solution into the Hughes auto-PACE offering, further enhancing the resilience of the programme.
Commenting on the deal, Rick Lober, Vice President/General Manager, Hughes Defense and Government Systems Division, said: “Multi-orbit, flexible networks deliver real-time communications to meet mission requirements across the battlefield. Whether users need connectivity on the ground or in the air, resilient communications must be available using the frequency band and satellite system that is most effective for the application and location. Hughes appreciates the opportunity to continue working with SES Space & Defense and others on this programme as the need for multi-orbit communications accelerates.”
Hughes boasts a legacy as a pioneer in SATCOM for government, defence, and enterprise applications, with over 50 years of experience in satellite communications. The company continues to advance technologies and capabilities to meet the evolving needs of commercial and government customers.