Harris Lands Air Force Contract to Develop Multi-Satellite Ground Antenna Prototype

Harris has secured a $6.2M contract from the U.S. Air Force to build a ground antenna platform that will be able to connect to multiple satellites simultaneously, C4ISRNET reported Tuesday.

The planned prototype will sustain communications with satellites through the use of phased-array antennas. In addition, the firm intends for the system to accommodate eight communications per frequency band.

“Until recently, there hasn’t been a need to increase the number of simultaneous satellite connections, and doing so was cost prohibitive,” said Kristin Jones, a spokesperson at Harris. “A congested space domain is now driving the need for a solution.”

Jones added that the company created an approach that uses 5G technology to help achieve the Air Force's operational objectives.

The service branch awarded the contract to Harris through a Defense Innovation Unit initiative.