Hughes, Airbus Eye User Mobility With Satellite Terminal; Rick Lober Comments

Airbus‘ defense and space business has partnered with Hughes Network Systems to develop an X-band satellite terminal for a new service that works to provide video, voice and data services for military operations.

Hughes said Monday it will integrate its modem and waveform solutions with Airbus’ Skynet military communications satellite system to deliver a lightweight and man-portable terminal for the XeBRA service.

Colin Paynter, head of Airbus Defence and Space UK, said the team seeks to leverage the terminal’s functions to bolster mobility among users.

The X-band satellite terminal features a compact form and a 512 kbps capacity via the Skynet 5 satellite system to support online streaming, videoconferencing and communications-on-the-pause operations, Hughes said.

“We are excited about working with Airbus Defence and Space and applying Hughes’ innovations in modem and packaging technology to this groundbreaking service,” said Rick Lober, vice president and general manager of Hughes’ defense and intelligence systems division.