Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) High Data Rate Communications

In this Phase I effort, FIRST RF will develop and evaluate concepts enabling Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications using field deployable multi-band antenna arrays. The novel multi-band array topology allows for a compact and light weight system to be fielded that operates over S-Band, C-Band, and Ku-Band, has a 360 field of regard in azimuth, and can maintain a 20 Mb/s data link over each band at distances up to 70 nmi for longer than 8 hours continuously at Ku-Band and 23 hours at S-/C-Band. Low weight is maintained by fielding a passive aperture with a wide elevation pattern which allows for a ground-to-air relay allowing the system to operate in SATCOM-denied environments. The antenna system also has the benefit of a narrow azimuth radiation pattern conducive to point-to-point communications and networking waveforms minimizing the probability of intercept. The system is designed to be radio agnostic, allowing for a variety of commercial and military-grade radios to be integrated with the antenna system allowing for future-proof compatibility with the advanced transceivers currently under development. FIRST RF proposes an innovative approach that leverages innovative array architecture to provide a frequency-diverse communications node that uses airborne relays to facilitate BLOS communications.