Orbit Communication Systems has announced that Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, a leading global defense technology provider headquartered in Israel, has placed a $5.5 million order for Orbit's MPT 87 airborne satcom terminals and AL-4018 ground pedestals for integration with Israel Aerospace Industries' advanced Heron TP MALE UAV. The Heron TP is an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft developed by the MALAT division of Israel Aerospace Industries. The UAV is an advanced version of the Heron.
Orbit's integrated solution for an onboard Multi-Purpose Terminal (MPT 87) and the AL-4018 high-speed ground pedestals will provide both beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) and line-of-sight (LOS) connectivity along with tracking for IAI's next-generation medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Delivery of the Orbit equipment is expected in 2019 and 2020.
Orbit's Multi-Purpose Terminal (MPT™) delivers satellite-based broadband communications to both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft as well as UAVs. Built to military standard (MIL-STD), it features optimized Size, Weight and Power, and is ruggedized to withstand the challenging environments of mission- and business-critical platforms. Designed to fit the tight spaces allocated to airborne communications equipment, the terminal is certified for a broad range of aircraft. Orbit's MPT series includes 30, 60 and 87-cm (12, 24 and 34-inch) terminals, as well as the recently announced 46-cm (18-inch) terminal developed for Inmarsat and compatible with Global Express (GX) and government Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) systems.
