Harris Demos Satellite Antenna Feed

MELBOURNE, Fla., Sept. 26 -- Harris Corp. has completed field demonstrations of a satellite antenna feed prototype it says is capable of supporting selectable antenna polarization for satellite orthogonal (right angle) transmit and receive operations.

"The feed prototype achieved user data rates reaching an astounding 105 Mb/s -- more than 12 times the current satellite terminal capability," the company said. For the demonstrations, the Harris used its modified lightweight high-gain X-band antenna (LHGXA) and a modified AN/TSC-85C terminal operating over the recently launched XTAR-EUR commercial X-band satellite. It said the new selectable polarization X-band feed will allow users to gain full access to both the right-hand and left-hand circular polarized XTAR satellite transponders. It can installed on existing LHGXA antennas and will be the standard offering on the company's newest tactical satellite antenna, the large-aperture multiband deployable antenna (LAMDA). The 4.9-meter LAMDA supports satellite communications connectivity over commercial C- and Ku-band satellites, as well as both military X-band satellites (DSCS, WGS, NATO, and SKYNET) and the new XTAR satellites.

More than 125 LHGXAs are currently in the Department of Defense inventory, providing mobile satellite communications connectivity to military personnel around the world. This large-aperture antenna, with its 4.9-meter (16-foot) diameter reflector and shaped offset-fed design, has the equivalent performance characteristics of a 20-foot reflector, Harris said.

XTAR-EUR, built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), was launched in February and carries twelve 72-Hz, high-power X-band transponders that provide coverage from Eastern Brazil and the Atlantic Ocean, across Europe, Africa and the Middle East to Singapore. It is expected to provide service for nearly 20 years and is fielded by XTAR LLC, a new satellite communications company providing long-haul communications, logistics and infrastructure services for US allied governments. The company, based in Rockville, Md., is a joint venture between Loral Space & Communications and HISDESAT, a provider of X-band services to the Spanish Ministry of Defense.

For more information, visit: www.harris.com