Carol Collins
L3Harris Technologies has selected the defense unit of NXT Communications to provide an electronically steerable antenna intended to support mobile connectivity among warfighters of the Department of Defense.
NXTCOMM Defense’s small form factor ESA has no moving parts and is designed to function in various satellites on the geosynchronous, low, medium and high earth orbit, NXTCOMM said Friday.
Chris Aebli, president of L3Harris’ global communication systems unit, said the ESA is suitable for both manpack and flyaway terminals and complements the company’s Very Small Aperture Terminal platform for satellite communications.
L3Harris’ VSAT offerings are developed for beyond line of sight communications for rear-base logistic support as well as identification and mitigation of interferences. Hawkeye III Lite, Shadow Ku-band plat panel and Panther II are some of the products under the VSAT portfolio.
David Horton, CEO of NXTCOMM, said the company will partner with L3Harris to help enhance soldiers’ connectivity and situational awareness through the flat panel antenna technology.
The first product deliveries are slated to happen during the first quarter of 2022.
In June 2020, NXTCOMM introduced the initial designs of the ESA, which was developed with the help of the Georgia Tech Research Institute.
The company signed a capacity agreement with Eutelsat Communications to support the proprietary flat-panel terminal’s over-the-air testing through EUTELSAT 117 West A, which allows high-power Ku-band coverage.
