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2022-04-03

Indra to Develop SATCOM System for Long-Endurance Drones

Global technology company, Indra, is developing a satellite communications (SATCOM) system that will enable the large aircraft and drones of the future to maintain superiority in every mission.

The technology will enable the operator to pilot long-range drones from a base thousands of kilometres away, exchanging a large amount of data with other connected platforms.

The new SATCOM will offer bandwidths of up to 20 megabits per second, multiplying the transmission capacity of today’s most advanced on-board systems.

This functionality is critical for a generation of aircraft that will need to transmit a high volume of information to long-distance command centres operating within the future combat clouds, along with multiple land, naval and air platforms.

Indra’s system will be one of the few that will be designed from the outset to obtain DAL-D (Design Assurance Level-D) security certification, which is essential in order to remotely control large military drones safely.

The new terminal will be seamlessly suited to medium or large platforms, such as the future EuroDrone currently being developed by Germany, Spain, France and Italy.

By transmitting in both civilian and military communications bands (Ku and Ka bands), the terminal will offer armies maximum flexibility to take advantage of the capabilities of the satellites available to each user in each region.

Protection Mode

According to the company, the system will have a robust protection mode to resist any kind of interference. It will eliminate the keyhole effect, which can make it difficult to connect with geostationary satellites in areas close to the equator.

All these features will make Indra one of the few companies in the world to have this type of strategic technology, which is essential in order for these aircraft to be able to form part of the complex systems of systems of the future.

Indra is currently the second-largest supplier of avionics systems for the Eurofighter, one of the most advanced multi-role fighters. Its role as national coordinator of the Next Generation Weapon System (NGWS)/Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme guarantees its in-depth knowledge of the air combat systems that will enter service in the coming decades. It has implemented its technology on board such aircraft as the AWACS and the A400M, among others.

Indra implemented the network management system for the satellite communication network used by the Spanish Army. It has also equipped Spanish vehicles, ships and submarines with satellite communications terminals and has provided the Spanish Army with anchor stations and flyaway systems for communication in areas of operation.

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