The milestone opens the door for integration of the aero
terminal onto commercial and military aircraft. The companies are
in full production to fulfill orders.
BROOMFIELD, Colo. and FORT WORTH, Texas, July 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BAE Systems' (LON: BA) strategic
partner Stellar Blu Solutions has completed qualification and
earned supplemental type certification on the multi-orbit
Sidewinder aero terminal using BAE Systems' Ku-band electronically
scanned antenna (ESA). The milestone enables the companies to begin
mass production and installation of the antennas to support
in-flight connectivity (IFC) on commercial aircraft, business jets,
and other military and government platforms.
"This milestone serves as a building block
as we advance these capabilities for our commercial and military
customers."
In March, the ESA completed its DO-160 airborne equipment
qualification. The antenna completed qualification from its
original design and moved directly to production, showcasing its
design maturity, product quality, and strong heritage. Upon
completion of flight testing in June, the Sidewinder terminal
received its first supplemental type certification (STC) from the
Federal Aviation Administration, opening the door for airlines to
begin integrating the system onto regional jets. The terminal will
continue with global performance validation and testing with a
second aircraft, including in polar areas.
With these requirements met and Sidewinder now in service, BAE
Systems and Stellar Blu have ramped production and begun shipment
to meet more than 1,000 existing orders, including several hundred
installations scheduled over the next year. In parallel, the
companies continue their collaboration on next generation terminal
designs focused on Ku and Ka low-Earth orbit (LEO) optimized
terminals.
"The need for quality in-flight connectivity is growing every
day, as displayed by our already considerable number of orders,"
said Paula Burns, vice president and
general manager of Tactical Solutions for BAE Systems Space &
Mission Systems. "This is a major milestone for both BAE Systems
and Stellar Blu, and it will serve as a building block as we
continue to advance these capabilities for our commercial and
military customers."
BAE Systems designs and produces the transmit antenna, receive
antenna, and antenna control software that Stellar Blu integrates
into its Sidewinder terminal. Sidewinder is a complete aero
terminal, and the full kit includes all external and cabin
components to support internet service providers offering
multi-orbit connectivity. Integrator kits are available for
government applications. Stellar Blu was responsible for the
qualification and STC process for the terminal.
"Our collaboration is foundational to our success, which is
reflected in our backlog and the overwhelming interest in every
aero market," said Tracy Trent, CEO
of Stellar Blu Solutions. "We continue to invest in the adaption of
Sidewinder with airframe original equipment manufacturers and the
development of new products, utilizing proven BAE Systems
technology to bring a range of solutions to our customers."
BAE Systems' antennas support multi-orbit satellite
communications and have been extensively flight tested on LEO and
geostationary orbit satellite networks. The low-profile antenna met
all qualification requirements without requiring an external
radome, reducing the cost and installation complexity while
improving radio frequency performance.
www.baesystems.com/US
@BAESystemsInc
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SOURCE BAE Systems, Inc.