L3Harris Technologies has selected NXTCOMM Defense to develop an electronically steerable antenna (ESA) for the US military.
NXTCOMM and L3Harris collaboration will see NXTCOMM develop Ku-band ESA antenna for land-mobile troop connectivity.
NXTCOMM Defense is the defence unit of NXT Communications.
NXTCOMM CEO David Horton said: “NXTCOMM is excited to team with L3Harris, a global aerospace and defence technology innovator, to ensure mobile connectivity of our nation’s warfighters.
“We look forward to enhancing L3Harris’ connectivity reliability and speed with smarter, nimbler flat panel antenna technology that can immediately enhance the situational awareness of our soldiers deployed on the ground.”
NXTCOMM’s ESA antennas, which do not have any moving parts, work over geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO), low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO) or highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellites.
These antennas will connect with LEO satellites that will be full constellations in the coming years.
L3Harris Global Communications Systems president Chris Aebli said: “In order to meet the evolving needs of our customers L3Harris required a state-of-the-art, small form factor ESA suitable for both manpack and flyaway terminals.
“NXTCOMM’s ESAs are an ideal complement to L3Harris’ industry-leading VSAT technologies, enabling the multi-orbit terminals that our customers need.
“L3Harris is excited about the partnership with NXTCOMM and looks forward to delivering this exciting capability to the hands of our warfighters.”
Deliveries of NXTCOMM’s ESAs are scheduled for the first quarter of next year.
Recently, L3Harris unveiled a handheld only radio ‘XL Extreme 400P’ for emergency responder communications in extreme environments.
