Satellite system upgrades will enhance
security and resiliency on major UAS upgrade program
GERMANTOWN, Md.,
April 8,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network
Systems, an EchoStar (Nasdaq: SATS) company, today announced
its it has been awarded a production contract from General Atomics
Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to produce a key component of
the next-generation satellite communications (SATCOM) system for
the MQ-1C Gray Eagle 25M Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). Under the
contract, Hughes will provide advanced, ruggedized HM400 modems,
named the HM400T, that integrate with the DoD's standard waveform
technology and transmission security (TRANSEC) features to enable
significantly increased endurance and resilience for Gray Eagle 25M's wide range of Airborne
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaisance (AISR) mission
requirements, particularly for operations in contested
environments.
"Hughes looks forward to supporting GA-ASI with a secure and
cost-effective communications architecture that delivers the speed,
flexibility and resiliency necessary to meet the next generation of
mission requirements," said Rick
Lober, vice president and general manager of the Defense and
Government Systems Division at Hughes. "This production contract
reinforces the commitment of Hughes to serving GA-ASI and, by
extension, the U.S. Army and this program of record, ensuring
enhanced communications and ISR capabilities for today's
multi-domain operations."
Hughes is producing advanced, ruggedized HM400T modems, that
integrate with the DoD's standard Enhanced Bandwidth Efficient
Modulation (EBEM) waveform technology and TRANSEC features. This
advanced, customized software-defined commercial technology is
based on the HM400 modem that is operating on the GA-ASI MQ-9B UAS.
The HM400T incorporates a ruggedized container for high altitude
applications, meets low size, weight and power (SWAP) requirements,
and supports government approved waveforms to ensure resilient ISR
transmissions for the U.S. Army's next-generation Gray Eagle 25M,
MQ-1C, UAS and its long-endurance missions. This next-generation
UAS will support the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army National Guard to
meet the demands of future unmanned and manned teaming operations
and help fill the growing Reconaissance, Surveillance, Targeting
and Attack (RSTA) gap. After completing the development phase,
GA-ASI awarded Hughes the initial production units; Hughes will
start delivering these communications systems in the Spring. This
highly advanced UAS platform supports worldwide ISR missions.
To learn more about how Hughes delivers secure communications,
anytime, anywhere, please visit the Hughes website.
About Hughes Network Systems
Hughes Network Systems,
LLC, an EchoStar (Nasdaq: SATS) company, provides broadband
equipment and services; managed services featuring smart,
software-defined networking; and end-to-end network operation for
millions of consumers, businesses, governments, airlines, and
communities worldwide. The Hughes flagship internet service,
Hughesnet®, connects millions of people 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,
mobile network operators and military customers. Hughes products
and services have helped bring in-flight video and broadband to
thousands of aircraft for over twenty years. A managed network
services provider, Hughes supports approximately half a million
enterprise sites with its HughesON™ portfolio of wired and wireless
solutions. To learn more,
visit https://www.hughes.com/ or follow HughesConnects on
Twitter and LinkedIn.
©2024 Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar company. Hughes
and HughesNet are registered trademarks and JUPITER is a trademark
of Hughes Network Systems, LLC.
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SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC