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Astrium Services’ newest generation of airborne satcom terminal has completed flight testing in Canada. The “flight proven” AirPatrol system is now commencing flight trials for the RIFL2E (Radar and Imaging for the Land/Littoral Environment) coastal surveillance project of Canada’s Department of National Defense.
Astrium Services developed the system for operation in a robust airborne environment. After successfully qualifying for flight clearance, AirPatrol was installed on board a Convair CV-580 aircraft on behalf of Canadian coastal surveillance. The Astrium satcom terminal is now delivering excellent airborne satellite broadband services, which is used to generate real-time, high-resolution imagery for DND.
Canada’s RIFL2E project aims to improve coastal surveillance and has an eye on maintaining the country’s sovereignty over the Canadian north.
Through the combination of AirPatrol and the Skynet X-band satellite -both are Astrium Service products,- the Canadian DND can evaluate the operational capability of their airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) test platform.
According to Aidan Joy, Executive Director of Astrium Services’ Satcom Systems & Solutions, AirPatrol’s flight trial was a key milestone for the company’s airborne satcom program. AirPatrol not only achieved airborne qualification and airframe integration; it also delivered excellent results during early flight testing. The Astrium satcom terminal accurately tracked the Skynet satellite via the beacon receiver, and achieved a transmission data rate of over 11 Mbps.
Astrium Service’s AirPatrol will provide military and government customers with beyond-line-of-sight connectivity to secure networks and high-speed transmission of sensor data for shared situational awareness and enhanced mission effectiveness. The modular satcom system can be integrated onto fixed, rotary, and unmanned platforms.
