Hughes and SES Demonstrate First Multi-Orbit SATCOM for Remotely Piloted Aircraft
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
IDWS 2025 Concludes with Focus on Global Knowledge Exchange, Financial Opportunities, and Scalable Water Solutions16.12.2025 21:03:00 EET | Press release
The 4th Innovation Driven Water Sustainability Conference (IDWS) 2025 concluded on Wednesday in Jeddah, confirming its status as one of the world’s most influential platforms for shaping the future of water innovation, sustainability, and security. Gathering senior global policymakers and international industry leaders, this year’s edition has advanced critical dialogue on safeguarding the planet’s most vital resource, with Saudi Arabia at the forefront. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251216483490/en/ Investors, innovators, and global institutions gather in Saudi to outline how capital, collaboration, and governance can accelerate long term water sustainability (Photo: AETOSWire) Among the most consequential engagements were a series of meetings that brought together discussions powered by SWA, centred on shared challenges, knowledge exchange, and exploring opportunities within the global water ecosystem. Att
OAG Appoints ex-Skyscanner Executive Filip Filipov as New Chief Executive Officer16.12.2025 18:00:00 EET | Press release
OAG announces today the appointment of Filip Filipov, ex-Skyscanner executive, as new Chief Executive Officer. Filip Filipov currently serves as the company’s Chief Operating Officer and takes over from Phil Callow who has chosen to step down having completed thirteen transformational years at the helm of OAG to pursue his many other interests. Since joining in 2024, Filipovhas played a leading role in the company’s ambitious next phase of growth and ongoing acceleration. He will now lead OAG into a new era defined by advanced data products and AI-driven intelligence. Before joining OAG, Filipov held senior roles in travel technology and big-data consulting, including on Skyscanner’s executive team. Filip Filipov said: “It’s a privilege to step into this role and lead a company with such a strong heritage and reputation. I’m excited for what’s ahead and committed to serving our customers with the reliability, service, and innovation they depend on.” Chairman of OAG, Gehan Talwatte, com
Xsolla Integrates SPENN in Rwanda and Zambia Giving Developers Access to a Strong Consumer-Merchant Ecosystem16.12.2025 17:49:00 EET | Press release
Xsolla, a global video game commerce company that helps developers launch, grow, and monetize their games, today announced that it has added SPENN to its payments solution portfolio in Rwanda and Zambia. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251216303338/en/ Xsolla Integrates SPENN In Rwanda And Zambia Giving Developers Access To A Strong Consumer-Merchant Ecosystem Both Rwanda and Zambia are mobile-first, wallet-led economies where mobile money drives financial inclusion and rapid growth in digital transactions. Reports found that approximately 86% of Rwandan adults own or have used mobile money. As of mid-2024, mobile money transaction volumes in Zambia increased by 44% to 1.4 billion transactions from mid-2023. By adding SPENN as a payment method to its portfolio, Xsolla enables players to continue paying seamlessly in a way they are already familiar with. Key benefits of the SPENN integration include: Streamline
New Survey of Nearly 4,300 C-suite Leaders Reveals Intensifying Demand for Faster Innovation, Higher ROI and Stronger Business Resilience16.12.2025 16:00:00 EET | Press release
Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a global provider of end-to-end enterprise software support, managed services and Agentic AI ERP innovation solutions, and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software, today announced the findings of its new global survey, “C-suite Imperatives: Accelerating Innovation in a Shifting Landscape.” The research was conducted in partnership with Censuswide surveying nearly 4,300 CFOs, CIOs, CEOs and CISOs across the globe, examining the pressures influencing executive-level technology decisions and the priorities shaping their investment strategies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251216456670/en/ New Survey of Nearly 4,300 C-suite Leaders Reveals Intensifying Demand for Faster Innovation, Higher ROI and Stronger Business Resilience The analysis shows executives are recalibrating their strategies around AI, automation and resilience as boards push
Enersense Selects Sitetracker as the Platform of Choice for 5G and Fiber Expansion Initiatives16.12.2025 16:00:00 EET | Press release
Sitetracker, the global leader in complete Asset Lifecycle Management, announced that Enersense, a leading lifecycle partner for customers operating in energy transmission and production, industrial energy transition and telecommunications services across Finland and the Baltics, has selected Sitetracker to digitize and scale its operations. The implementation enabled Enersense to replace legacy systems, standardize workflows, and support their ability to deliver services with short lead times and high process precision. The first phase of implementation is already supporting Finland’s 5G and rapidly expanding fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) initiatives. Before Sitetracker, Enersense relied on spreadsheets and email to manage project execution, resulting in limited visibility into project milestones, asset tracking, and field performance. As 5G and FTTH deployment accelerated, these manual processes created operational bottlenecks, slowed invoicing, and hindered communication with customers a
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