Gogo Special Missions and Insitu, a Boeing company, say they have completed testing and integration of a modified satellite connectivity system for Insitu’s Integrator, a Group 3 uncrewed aerial system (UAS).
In a statement, the companies said the work optimised Gogo’s Galileo HDX antenna for installation on the Integrator, with a focus on size and weight for the Group 3 UAS category.
Insitu Vice President of Growth John Kelly said adding an ITAR-free, high-speed satellite communications option was intended to extend command-and-control and support backhaul of sensor data with low latency for customers operating globally. He said the offering would be delivered as a turnkey package including UAS equipment, satellite services and 24/7 support.
Gogo Special Missions Senior Vice-President and General Manager Ben Massey said the Integrator platform was used to adapt the HDX system for the Group 3 market. He said the configuration would allow access to internet connectivity over Eutelsat’s OneWeb low Earth orbit satellite constellation, using a single line replaceable unit (LRU) approach.
The companies said integration and testing of the customised Galileo HDX on the Integrator was completed this month alongside Insitu’s FLARES vertical take-off and landing kit. They said the capability requires minimal deck space, can launch in high seas and gusty winds, and requires zero aircraft modifications.
Integrator is part of Insitu’s uncrewed aircraft portfolio and is used across military and government missions where beyond-line-of-sight communications and reliable data links can be critical to operational effectiveness. The announcement underscores the growing role of LEO satellite networks in supporting higher-bandwidth connectivity for smaller UAS platforms, where size, weight and power constraints can limit communications options.
