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
FERM FOOD Acquires Orkla’s Former Site and Scales Up: Up to 20,000 Tonnes of Fermented Ingredients Per Year11.3.2026 08:00:00 EET | Press release
Danish ingredient producer FERM FOOD is acquiring Orkla’s former manufacturing site in Skovlund, Denmark, effective 1 April 2026. The acquisition provides new production facilities to expand the output of fermented plant-based ingredients for the food industry — driven by export demand that has emerged faster than expected. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260310904877/en/ Jens Legarth (CEO), Rikke Matthiesen (CSO), and Torbjørn Tyndkjær-Thomsen (Food & Process Developer) at FERM FOOD’s new production facilities. “We have outgrown our current facilities. With the Skovlund site, we can supply many more food manufacturers in Denmark and abroad. Global interest has developed faster than we expected — and that is why we are scaling up now,” says Jens Legarth, CEO of FERM FOOD. Once fully ramped up, the new fermentation facility is expected to reach an annual capacity of up to 20,000 tonnes, depending on product mix
Galderma Buys Back Shares Worth CHF 232 Million in the Context of Accelerated Bookbuild Offering11.3.2026 08:00:00 EET | Press release
Galderma (SIX: GALD), the pure-play dermatology category leader, today announced that it has agreed to repurchase 1.6 million shares at a price of CHF 143.75 per share for a total consideration of CHF 232 million in the context of the accelerated bookbuild offering (“ABO”) of Galderma shares by Sunshine SwissCo GmbH (“EQT”), Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Private Equities Department) and Auba Investment Pte. Ltd. (all together the “Selling Shareholders”) launched yesterday evening. The repurchase was made at the same price per share determined by the bookbuilding offering. As a result of yesterday evening’s ABO, the Selling Shareholders have fully divested their remaining stake in Galderma. The repurchase, which is expected to settle on March 13 is being financed by Galderma’s existing liquidity on hand and will not affect the company’s ability to deliver on its strategic and financing priorities. The shares will be held in treasury for future use in connection with Galderma's employe
Thales Launches SkyDefender: The Integral Air and Missile Defence Dome With Artificial Intelligence11.3.2026 08:00:00 EET | Press release
As air and missile threats are evolving faster than ever, from slow-moving drones to hypersonic missiles, attacks are becoming increasingly complex, saturating and unpredictable. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260310398606/en/ SkyDefender © Thales Thales SkyDefender provides full protection against all types of air threats, from a few kilometres to several thousands of kilometres: Short-range: for protection of forces, vital assets and sensitive sites: ForceShield creates a real protection bubble against lower layer and surface threats at very short- and short-range, such as drones. Medium-range: for protection at theatre-level defence: SAMP-T NG by eurosam1 with up to 150 km engagement range, including Thales’ powerful Ground Fire radar with 350 km range and 360°/90° coverage against medium-range defence. Long-range: for protection against long-range threats with early-warning capabilities: a unique capacity
Curatis and Neupharma Announce Exclusive Licensing Agreement to Develop and Market Corticorelin (C-PTBE-01) for the Treatment of Peritumoral Brain Edema in Japan11.3.2026 08:00:00 EET | Press release
Curatis Holding AG (SIX: CURN) and Neupharma Co., Ltd. (“Neupharma”), a Japanese pharmaceutical company specializing in oncology, immunology, pulmonology and cardiology disorders, today announce an exclusive license and development agreement for corticorelin (C-PTBE-01) in Japan. Under the terms of the agreement, Neupharma will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize corticorelin for the treatment of peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) in Japan. PTBE is a tumor-associated condition for which no approved targeted therapies currently exist. Neupharma will finance and conduct a pivotal clinical trial in Japan to support filing for approval in Japan. Curatis will receive upfront and milestone payments for the achievement of regulatory and commercial targets totaling up to CHF 83.5 million, as well as royalties on future sales in Japan of up to 20%. The agreement stipulates that corticorelin is planned to be introduced in Japan initially for children and adolescents. A meeting with
Galderma Completes Successful Placement of EUR 500 Million Eurobond11.3.2026 07:55:00 EET | Press release
Galderma Group AG (SWX:GALD): NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE RESTRICTED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR REGULATION. Galderma Group AG (SIX:GALD), the pure-play dermatology category leader, today announced the successful placement of a single-tranche EUR 500 million Eurobond. The bond has a 5-year maturity and carries a fixed-rate annual coupon of 3.375%. The Eurobond was placed on March 10, 2026, with settlement expected on March 17, 2026, and will be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Citigroup, ING, J.P. Morgan and RBC Capital Markets jointly led the transaction. Net proceeds from the transaction will be used to fully repay Galderma’s existing bank term loan issued in connection with the company’s initial public offering in March 2024. The transaction represents the final step in Galderma’s refinancing process, having obtained two investment grade credit ratings. Galderma is currently rated ‘BBB’ (stable outlook) by Fitc
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