Hughes and SES Demonstrate First Multi-Orbit SATCOM for Remotely Piloted Aircraft
22.9.2021 09:50:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) and SES today announced the successful first demonstration of a new multi-orbit satellite communications (SATCOM) capability for remotely piloted aircraft. Conducted for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the demonstration paired Hughes HM series software-defined modems and Resource Management System (RMS) with SES’s satellites that operate in geosynchronous (GEO) and medium earth (MEO) orbits. SES’s unique multi-orbit fleet, which delivers global coverage, high throughput and security, was leveraged to show how unmanned aerial vehicles, such as the GA-ASI MQ-9 series, can maintain crucial connectivity and resiliency, even in contested environments.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210921006196/en/
Hughes and SES Demonstrate First Multi-Orbit SATCOM for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (Photo: Business Wire)
The demonstration replicated a typical unmanned Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission, transmitting high-definition video and sensor data to and from the unmanned vehicle to the command center. Based on the mission’s pre-set policies, the RMS automatically switched the satellite signals to stay connected – even when a signal experienced interference and jamming scenarios. A quasi-instant and smooth beam switch took just seconds to complete, allowing a near real-time capability that enhances the military’s Primary Alternative Contingency Emergency (PACE) planning.
“Our multi-orbit demonstration for remotely piloted aircraft delivered three times the throughput of the currently deployed SATCOM service using a terminal less than half the size, while maintaining constant connectivity,” said Rick Lober, vice president and general manager, Hughes Defense. “This highly resilient, significantly reduced SWAP option for primary and secondary aero connections unlocks new beyond-line of sight mission opportunities for unmanned aerial vehicles like the GA-ASI MQ-9. It’s another example of how Hughes empowers our military to exchange information securely with the right people at the right time.”
“SES's second-generation MEO system, O3b mPOWER brings a new age of game changing performance, scalability, and resilience that will enable us to deliver the network sovereignty that governments are looking for,” said Will Tong, Vice President of Strategic Government Initiatives and Head of the Aero ISR market at SES Networks. “The demonstration we did with Hughes showcases the power of the industry’s first multi-orbit networked capability to exponentially increase performance utilizing small terminals, while giving end-users the autonomy to provision networks to meet their operational ISR needs. It also comes at a perfect time as we are preparing to launch O3b mPOWER as the showcased solution ensures both high-performance and multiple layers of network resiliency and security for multi-domain operations that involve moving platforms in remote, austere locations.”
The demonstration was powered by software-defined gateways and modems from the Hughes HM System, a commercially based, frequency-agnostic, open architecture platform for fixed, mobile and portable government applications. For more information about Hughes Defense solutions, including the HM System, visit defense.hughes.com.
Follow us on:
Twitter | Facebook | Youtube | LinkedIn | Instagram
Read our Blogs >
Visit the Media Gallery >
About Hughes Network Systems
Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), an innovator in satellite and multi-transport technologies and networks for 50 years, provides broadband equipment and services; managed services featuring smart, software-defined networking; and end-to-end network operation for millions of consumers, businesses, governments and communities worldwide. The Hughes flagship Internet service, HughesNet®, connects more than 1.5 million subscribers across the Americas, and the Hughes JUPITER™ System powers Internet access for tens of millions more worldwide. Hughes supplies more than half the global satellite terminal market to leading satellite operators, in-flight service providers, mobile network operators and military customers. A managed network services provider, Hughes supports nearly 500,000 enterprise sites with its HughesON™ portfolio of wired and wireless solutions. Headquartered in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes is owned by EchoStar. To learn more, visit www.hughes.com or follow HughesConnects on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About SES
SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world’s only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world’s leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES’s video network carries over 8,650 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 361 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com.
About EchoStar
EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite communication solutions. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar is a pioneer in secure communications technologies through its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business segments. For more information, visit www.echostar.com. Follow @EchoStar on Twitter.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210921006196/en/
Contact information
Hughes
Sharyn Nerenberg
301-428-7124
sharyn.nerenberg@Hughes.com
SES
Suzanne Ong
Tel. +352 710 725 500
suzanne.ong@ses.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Kyrgyzstan’s National Interbank Processing Center Partners With Alipay+ to Launch International QR Payments4.6.2026 05:00:00 EEST | Press release
With the support of the National Bank of Kyrgyz Republic, Interbank Processing Center (IPC), Kyrgyzstan’s national payment system operator, and Alipay+, Ant International’s unified wallet gateway, have launched international QR payments for users of the ELCARD Mobile app. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260603760762/en/ (L-R) Altymysh Turatbekov, Chairman of the National Interbank Processing Center; Pan Yan, Head of Strategic Partnership for Alipay+, Ant International The launch was officiated by the Chairman of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic. Almaz Baketaev, Chairman of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic, said: “Our colleagues from IPC together with Alipay+ launched this project last year, and today we are bringing it into practice. Our citizens now have access to a payment system covering merchants worldwide. Wherever they are, they can make payments in any currency easily and without any com
Murata Introduces World’s First 2.2μF/100Vdc Soft-Termination Chip MLCC in 0805-inch Size for Automotive Applications4.6.2026 05:00:00 EEST | Press release
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 6981) (ISIN: JP3914400001) introduces the GCJ21BD72A225KE02, a soft-termination chip multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) for automotive powertrain and safety equipment. This world's first soft-termination chip MLCC product achieves the highest available capacitance of 2.2μF at 100Vdc in the smallest 0805-inch (2.0×1.25mm) size*. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260603192945/en/ [Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.] 2.2µF/100Vdc Soft-Termination Chip MLCC in 0805-inch Size for Automotive Applications As vehicle electrification accelerates and autonomous driving (AD) and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) grow more sophisticated, engineers face increasing pressure to pack more functionality into tighter board spaces. The wider adoption of 48V power systems further demands components that combine high capacitance, high voltage tolerance, and a small footprint. At the same t
Megaport Launches Storage, Unifying Its Automated Infrastructure Platform Alongside Compute and Network Offerings4.6.2026 01:47:00 EEST | Press release
Megaport Limited (ASX: MP1) (“Megaport”), a leading global automated infrastructure platform, today announced the launch of Megaport Storage, expanding its platform to deliver integrated compute, network, and storage services. Megaport Storage integrates high-performance, enterprise cloud storage directly into the Megaport Network and Latitude.sh compute platform, giving enterprises a unified foundation that covers the three key pillars of IT infrastructure: compute, network, and storage. The launch marks a culminating step in Megaport’s evolution, delivering predictable costs, seamless scalability, and direct data access wherever customers operate. “With the launch of Megaport Storage, we’re not just connecting your cloud anymore; we’re providing the foundation for it,” said Michael Reid, CEO of Megaport. “By aligning storage needs directly with workload requirements on our global ecosystem, we’re combining the performance of dedicated infrastructure with the scalability and flexibili
C.H. Robinson Launches World's First AI Technology That Continually Assesses, Improves and Operates Global Supply Chains3.6.2026 19:00:00 EEST | Press release
As the global leader in Lean AI supply chains, C.H. Robinson has built the first AI technology designed to both operate a shipper’s global supply chain and also continuously assess and improve its performance. Now serving the company’s 4PL Managed Solutions customers, a new Lean AI Engineer works in concert with the Lean AI Planner introduced last year to create one connected system that uniquely enhances a supply chain as it runs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260520874794/en/ The Lean AI Engineer can assess an entire supply chain in 25 to 30 minutes and determine improvements before performance is impacted – compared to supply chain assessments that typically take up to four weeks and look backward at what has happened instead of what should happen. While the Lean AI Engineer delivers intel, the Lean AI Planner manages shipments through hundreds of interconnected AI agents and in turn feeds more data back
Leading Global Brain Science Conference OHBM 2028 to Be Held in Yokohama3.6.2026 18:00:00 EEST | Press release
Yokohama has won the bid to host the 2028 Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM 2028), one of the world’s premier international conferences in brain science, further elevating the city’s presence as a global hub for international conventions and academic exchange. The meeting will take place at PACIFICO Yokohama from June 18–22 and will mark only the second time the meeting has been held in Japan. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260603787692/en/ YOKOHAMA JAPAN'S FIRST PORT OF CALL OHBM is a leading international academic society in the fields of brain imaging, neuroscience, and neurological-disease research. Its annual meeting attracts around 3,000 researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry representatives from around the world. OHBM 2028 will be organized in collaboration with the Japan Human Brain Mapping Society (JHBM, President: Yoshikazu Ugawa and Tetsuya Matsuda). The
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom