Global Connectivity to Aerospace Forces Via SATCOM

There is an evolving need in the commercial markets for low cost airborne receive antennas and potentially, low cost steerable antennas for 2-way fixed satellite service. These requirements are initially emerging from the slowly developing Ku-band pay-per-view TV market for commercial airlines. In the early 2000s, Low Earth Orbit LEO based satellite systems will be providing initial service for wideband 2-way communications at 30 and 20 GHz. One such system, Teledesic, will primarily offer fixed satellite service, however there are tentative plans on providing 2-way communications service for commercial aircraft. The baseline plan is to use phased array antennas on commercial aircraft to provide this connectivity. Spaceway NGSO is also planning on the use of phased arrays antennas for ground terminals earmarked for many home and business sites. This paper will discuss some Ku-band mechanical and electrically steered aircraft antennas currently being developed for commercial applications. The paper will also discuss the differences between the commercial and military aircraft antenna requirements and what steps should be taken to leverage the commercial antenna developments.