Web Page sponsor Viasat
www.viasat.com/gov-uk
————————————————————————
24 Aug 21. L3Harris Expands Satellite Production Site, Adds Unclassified Satellite Line for National Defense. L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) is expanding its satellite production site to include advanced production of unclassified satellites, which will deliver experimental capabilities for national defense.
The Central Florida location is home to more than 100,000 square feet of space used for development, manufacturing and testing of full satellites and components which already deliver complex, classified capabilities for national defense. The increased production capability allows L3Harris to develop and test the experimental Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3), which is a priority program for the U.S. Air Force. Facility investments also make it possible to develop and integrate three sizes of small-to-medium responsive satellites in support of urgent U.S. Department of Defense missions addressing evolving threats.
“Our customers face urgent threats that must be addressed in months rather than years,” said Ed Zoiss, President of L3Harris Space and Airborne Systems. “We prioritized facility investments to meet their accelerating timelines.”
Two of the company’s eight buildings have recently been upgraded to manufacture multiple end-to-end satellites per month. L3Harris has built eight satellites at the expanded Palm Bay facility that are currently on orbit and another 10 are in various stages of development. The company plans to add more production capacity by the end of the year to produce six satellites per month.
About L3Harris Technologies
L3Harris Technologies is an agile global aerospace and defense technology innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions that meet customers’ mission-critical needs. The company provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. L3Harris has approximately $18bn in annual revenue and 47,000 employees, with customers in more than 100 countries. L3Harris.com. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
23 Aug 21. BAE Systems Collaborates With GLOBALFOUNDRIES to Produce Radiation-Hardened Single Board Computers for Space. BAE Systems’ radiation-hardened RAD510™ System on Chip (SoC) for space-based computing is entering fabrication. Designed by BAE Systems and manufactured by GLOBALFOUNDRIES® (GF®), the RAD510 SoC will be the core of a single board computer (SBC) with twice the performance capability of the industry standard RAD750® microprocessor. The new SBC will provide Power Architecture® software-compatible processing that is more advanced than the RAD750 radiation-hardened general purpose processor, while demanding less power from its spacecraft.
“The RAD510 SBC is the natural evolution of our RAD750 heritage microprocessor-based SBC, which has powered many of the most important national space assets,” said Ricardo Gonzalez, director of Space Systems at BAE Systems. “These high-reliability computers increase performance capability for satellites and other spacecraft, making space missions more effective. BAE Systems’ relationship with GLOBALFOUNDRIES began in 2001 with the development of the highly successful RH25 semiconductor technology node.”
The RAD510 SoC is already being integrated into SBCs that will be available to space agencies and spacecraft manufacturers this year. For ease of transition, the software is compatible with both the RAD750 and RAD5545 computers. The BAE Systems family of space-based electronics can withstand radiation doses a m times stronger than a fatal human dose; that durability is valued on missions like GPS III, Mars rovers, and many satellites on-orbit today. The RAD510 SBC also requires less power and has the radiation advantages of RH45 45nm silicon-on-isolator (SOI) technology.
“We are proud to work with BAE Systems and leverage the performance, reliability, and energy efficiency of our 45nm semiconductor platform to meet the stringent requirements of space,” said Mike Hogan, senior vice president and general manager of Automotive, Industrial and Multi-market at GF. “As the industry leader in semiconductors for sensitive aerospace and defense applications, GF knows what it takes to develop and manufacture solutions requiring the highest levels of security.”
BAE Systems’ facility in Manassas, Va. is a U.S. Department of Defense Category 1A Microelectronics Trusted Source. The company’s radiation-hardened electronics have been on-board satellites and spacecraft for almost 30 years, delivering long-lasting computing power in extreme environments.
The RAD510 SoCs are manufactured at GF’s Fab 10 facility in East Fishkill, N.Y., also a U.S. Department of Defense Category 1A Microelectronics Trusted Source. GF and BAE Systems have initiated the process of transitioning the manufacturing of 45 nm SOI technology to GF’s most advanced facility, Fab 8 in Malta, N.Y., making it available to the space community in the future.
BAE Systems also offers a suite of radiation-hardened Serial RapidIO network products which complement the RAD510 SBC and allow the user to efficiently manage and route data through the system. These include the RADNET® 1848-PS, an 18-Port RapidIO Packet Switch, the RADNET 1616-XP Crosspoint, a protocol agnostic SerDes signal circuit switch and replicator, and the RADNET SRIO-EP, a Serial RapidIO endpoint.
GF delivers differentiated feature-rich solutions that enable its customers to develop innovative products for high-growth market segments. The company provides a broad range of platforms and features with a unique mix of design, development and fabrication services. With an at-scale manufacturing footprint spanning the U.S., Europe and Asia, GF has the flexibility and agility to meet the dynamic needs of customers across the globe. GF is owned by Mubadala Investment Company. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
02 Sep 21. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space 64th session: UK statement on space and climate change.
Delivered by Lauren Newell, UK Space Agency International Policy Lead, at the United Nations in Vienna,
The UK is delighted to be assuming the Presidency of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), in partnership with Italy, later this year.
During the past three decades, climate change has gone from being a fringe issue to a global priority, and space is playing an increasing role in enabling us to monitor and tackle climate change.
The UK’s expertise in the analysis and exploitation of climate data from satellites supports the development of global policy on climate change and our collective efforts to reach Net Zero. The UK is also working with partner organisations and specialised bodies such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO), and the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), to make sure that the importance of space-based climate action is properly represented at COP26.
In the field of Earth Observation, the UK funds and help deliver work at the European Space Agency (ESA), as well as through bilateral missions and national programmes. These programmes range from technology innovation to applications, and the use of Earth Observation and other tools for decision making.
The UK works through ESA on programmes that will help us understand and tackle climate change. Missions like Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring (FORUM), which will measure radiation emitted by Earth into space, will improve climate models and, therefore, climate prediction. And the Biomass mission, which will survey Earth’s forests and improve our understanding of the effects of climate change on the global carbon cycle.
Also through ESA, the UK is leading on the TRUTHS mission, which will create a space-based climate observatory, collecting the most accurate measurements of energy coming into the Earth from the Sun, and light reflected off Earth’s surface, to help understand changes in balance and the human impact on the planet.
The TRUTHS mission will not only make measurements itself, but also improve the performance of other missions through calibration from space and allow rigorous testing of model forecasts to support decision-making on climate strategies. It will enable a 10-fold improvement in accuracy of data, which will halve the time required for making decisions.
The UK is working bilaterally with France on the MicroCarb mission, which will measure sources and sinks of carbon, the primary greenhouse gas driving global warming. MicroCarb is the first European mission intended to characterise greenhouse gas fluxes on Earth’s surface and determine how much carbon is being absorbed by oceans and forests. Monitoring the data will allow us to anticipate how ecosystems will react to global warming.
The UK Space Agency’s International Partnerships Programme (the IPP) plays a significant role in tackling climate change. Since its launch in 2016, the programme has supported 43 projects in 47 countries across Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
The IPP uses UK expertise in satellite technology and data services to deliver sustainable economic, societal or environmental benefits to developing countries that are seeking to increase their capacity to respond to global challenges such as climate and disaster resilience, maritime issues, for example maritime pollution, and deforestation.
For example, the Earth And Sea Observation System (EASOS) has developed three tools with Malaysia to help tackle environmental, security and human challenges. These tools provide regular automatic flood forecasts; have detected over 3,000 hectares of deforestation and helped identify and map the trajectory of three oil spills, saving clean-up costs of over £3 million.
Furthermore, the UK Space Agency supports educational and outreach programmes, including this year’s UNOOSA Space4Youth Competition, where the focus was on “Space as a tool to foster climate mitigation and adaptation”.
Alongside this, the UK Space Agency co-funds and chairs Space4Climate, a public-private-academic partnership, which brings together those with expertise across government, industry and academia in the development of satellites, analysis, exploitation of data, and production of data and climate services. Space4Climate supports the UK’s climate community to deliver and make use of climate information from space.
The UK believes that only through multi-stakeholder partnerships can we collectively tackle climate change and deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (the SDGs). We encourage international and regional organisations to work together to understand their comparative advantages and avoid duplication.
Within COPUOS, the UK has been a leading advocate for the development of a Space 2030 Agenda, a valuable tool to help countries to use space-based applications to achieve their SDG commitments.
The UK is looking forward to the World Space Forum that will be hosted by UNOOSA and Austria in December, focusing on the theme of ‘Space and Climate Action’, and where the UK will lead some of the sessions.
Chair, Distinguished Delegates, these are just a few examples of how the UK is using space to tackle and understand climate change. We believe international collaboration is crucial to address the climate crisis and we look forward to engaging further and working with all nations on this in the run up to COP26 and beyond. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
25 Aug 21. Kymeta and Comtech Telecommunications Corp. Announce Technology and Business Development Partnership. DoD and Commercial Customers Benefit Through Interoperability of the Kymeta™ u8 and the Comtech UHP-200 Universal Satellite Router.
Kymeta, the communications company making mobile global, and Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL), a leading global provider of next-generation 911 emergency systems and secure wireless communications technologies, announced today a technology and business development partnership. As a result, Kymeta has diversified its service offerings via network compatibility with Comtech’s UHP-200 Universal Satellite Router and the Kymeta™ u8 terminal, and Comtech has expanded distribution of its recently acquired UHP product line and strengthened its ability to offer integrated VSAT solutions to its customers.
Comtech’s certified UHP platform will enable new and existing Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial customers to operate the state-of-the-art Kymeta u8 for cost-effective and seamless communication solutions through its VSAT router technology. Kymeta will begin offering UHP-based services in North America.
The UHP-200 is an extremely fast VSAT router with aggregate throughput up to 450 Mbps and powerful UHP-real-time operating system. Its small size, low power consumption, and low count of active electronic components ensure the highest reliability with over 200,000 hours mean time between failures. UHP’s disruptive TDMA technology can result in a 20% efficiency advantage over other TDMA solutions. When paired with Kymeta’s next-generation solutions, government and commercial users will have access to efficient operating capabilities on the UHP network using the Kymeta u8.
Kymeta technology is uniquely positioned to meet the demand for mobile broadband, providing internet access via satellite or hybrid satellite-cellular networks on a user-defined basis to enable connectivity while on the move and on the pause. When combined with Kymeta connectivity offerings and back-end support suite of services, Kymeta Connect™, customers have unique access to an experience and product that no other satellite antenna company offers today.
“Kymeta continues to adapt, move, and grow in the market and we are excited to continue diversifying and strengthening our partnerships,” said Bill Marks, EVP and Chief Development Officer of Kymeta. “With an increased demand for UHP-connected services particularly in North America, this strategic technology partnership with Comtech will further enhance communications and offer new capabilities when and wherever needed.”
“With end-markets for high-speed satellite-based networks growing, this partnership is a significant step in enhancing our solution offerings,” said Dr. Vagan Shakhgildian, President of Comtech Satellite Network Technologies, Inc. – Commercial Group. “We are thrilled to collaborate with a forward-thinking company like Kymeta to provide service to end users with the quality and reassurance they expect from our innovative companies.”
This follows Kymeta’s recent announcement with Comtech to broaden its network offerings for the Kymeta u8 terminal through interoperability with Comtech’s SLM-5650B modem and Comtech’s March 2021 announcement to acquire UHP Networks Inc. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
25 Aug 21. BAE Systems Unveils World’s Smallest M-Code Military GPS Receiver. BAE Systems, Inc. unveiled its ultra-small MicroGRAMTM-M global positioning system (GPS) receiver compatible with next-generation M-Code military GPS signals that are resistant to jamming and spoofing. About the size of a postage stamp, MicroGRAM-M is the world’s smallest, lightest, and most power-efficient M-Code embedded GPS receiver – delivering assured positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) for size-constrained and other micro-applications.
“We’re delivering reliable PNT where our customers need it – from soldiers’ handheld devices to small unmanned aerial vehicles,” said Greg Wild, director of Navigation and Sensor Systems at BAE Systems. “MicroGRAM-M provides our armed forces and allies with a low-SWAP M-Code GPS solution that’s resistant to adversaries’ disruption efforts in highly contested environments.”
MicroGRAM-M features rapid secure GPS signal acquisition, enhanced security and resiliency, anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities, and the industry’s lowest power consumption for an M-Code device. The 1.0” x 1.25” x 0.275” MicroGRAM-M has the same physical dimensions as its predecessor, enabling quick upgradability to M-Code and reduced system integration costs. At its core is a proven, tamper-proof M-Code Common GPS Module that encapsulates classified data and signal processing.
“MicroGRAM-M is the latest BAE Systems M-Code military GPS product, joining MPETM-M and NavStrikeTM-M, which deliver enhanced awareness in highly contested environments and precision munitions guidance,” said John Watkins, vice president and general manager of Precision Strike & Sensing Solutions at BAE Systems. “Qualification of MicroGRAM-M is underway, with full-rate production expected in 2022.” (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
————————————————————————-
At Viasat, we’re driven to connect every warfighter, platform, and node on the battlefield. As a global communications company, we power millions of fast, resilient connections for military forces around the world – connections that have the capacity to revolutionize the mission – in the air, on the ground, and at sea. Our customers depend on us for connectivity that brings greater operational capabilities, whether we’re securing the U.S. Government’s networks, delivering satellite and wireless communications to the remote edges of the battlefield, or providing senior leaders with the ability to perform mission-critical communications while in flight. We’re a team of fearless innovators, driven to redefine what’s possible. And we’re not done – we’re just beginning.
————————————————————————