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
GoWit One: The Unified AI Operating System Set to Revolutionize Commerce & Retail Media4.12.2025 08:09:00 EET | Press release
GoWit, a global AdTech leader in omnichannel Commerce and Retail Media, announced the launch of GoWit One, the unified AI operating system that brings automation, unification, and real-time intelligence into a single ad platform for agencies operating across multiple retailers, channels, and markets. By bringing these three elements into one dashboard, GoWit One addresses the industry's most critical bottleneck: operational inefficiency. The platform enables agencies to manage campaigns across multiple retailers, channels, and markets, reducing manual AdOps workflows by 98%, turning a process that used to take hours into as little as 10 minutes. Solving the “Fragmentation Crisis” Despite the explosive growth of Retail Media, the industry faces a significant hurdle. According to the IAB, 70% of the market still lacks end-to-end AI adoption. Media buyers are currently forced to juggle disconnected networks, compliance rules, and dashboards, leading to manual errors and an inability to sc
Galderma Secures ‘BBB’ Credit Rating With Positive Outlook from S&P Global Ratings4.12.2025 08:00:00 EET | Press release
Galderma Group AG (SIX:GALD), the pure-play dermatology category leader, today announced that S&P Global Ratings (S&P) has assigned the company a ‘BBB’ long-term issuer credit rating with a positive outlook. The rating reflects Galderma’s strong track record of growth and its leading positions across Injectable Aesthetics, Dermatological Skincare and Therapeutic Dermatology. S&P notes the company’s well-established brand portfolio, global footprint, including an expanding presence in emerging markets, and continued investment in science-based innovation. S&P highlights momentum from recent launches, including Nemluvio® (nemolizumab), alongside improving profitability and expanding free operating cash flow. The agency also notes Galderma’s disciplined financial policy, supporting expectations of continued deleveraging over the coming years. The positive outlook indicates that an upgrade could be considered over the next 12–24 months subject to Galderma continuing to deliver profitable g
NTT DATA Announces Six New AI-Powered Cyber Defense Centers to Strengthen Cyber Resilience and Counter an Evolving Threat Landscape4.12.2025 05:30:00 EET | Press release
NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services, today announced the launch of four next-generation autonomous Cyber Defense Centers powered by AI technologies in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Noida and Mumbai, with two additional centers set to open in Birmingham (UK) in Dec 2025 and Dallas (USA) by Jan 2026. These purpose-built Cyber Defense Centers reinforce NTT DATA’s strategic focus on modernizing cybersecurity for the AI era. They represent a shift from traditional centralized security operations to a distributed, AI-driven, hyper-automated model that learns from past incidents and human expertise to automate, triage and prioritize alerts, accelerate investigations and incident response, contain threats faster and support regional data privacy and cybersecurity regulations. According to Omdia, autonomous Security Operations Centers (SOCs) will become the industry standard within two years, positioning NTT DATA as a leading example of how the industry is evolving
YES Announces Leadership Transition as Rezwan Lateef Appointed Chief Executive Officer3.12.2025 21:24:00 EET | Press release
YES (Yield Engineering Systems), a leading provider of high-performance process solutions for the semiconductor Advanced Packaging market, today announced that Rezwan Lateef has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lateef previously served as President of YES and has been a key driver of the company’s significant growth, global expansion, and product innovation over the past several years. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251202200541/en/ Rezwan Lateef, CEO of YES. The transition marks a natural progression for the company as it surpasses a key revenue milestone and enters its next phase of scaling with top tier semiconductor and AI computing customers. Rama Alapati, who has served as CEO since 2021, will step into a consulting role to support Mr. Lateef during the transition period and ensure strong organizational continuity. “Rama has played an instrumental role in elevating YES from a promising techno
Doha Debates Examines How Entertainment Shapes Us Today3.12.2025 19:13:00 EET | Press release
Qatar Foundation’s Doha Debates continues its flagship debate series with a new episode that examines how modern entertainment shapes our attention, creativity, and everyday well-being. Moderated by Dareen Abughaida, the debate brings together three influential thinkers to ask whether today’s entertainment landscape is enriching us—or overwhelming us. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251203737439/en/ Doha Debates examines how entertainment shapes us today in a new episode, leading thinkers and students debate whether today’s entertainment elevates us or pulls us into distraction. (Photo: AETOSWire) This week’s debate features Marya Bangee, Senior Advisor at the Pop Culture Collaborative; Dr. Anna Lembke, Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University and author of Dopamine Nation; and Nicholas Carr, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Shallows. For Bangee, the power of entertainment lies in storytelling t
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