Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) High Data Rate Communications

During Phase II, FIRST RF will develop and evaluate concepts enabling beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications using field-deployable multi-band arrays. The novel multi-band array topology allows fielding of a compact and lightweight system that operates over L-Band, 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 and up to 24 hours with additional power supplies. Low weight is maintained by fielding a directional aperture with a wide elevation pattern which allows for a ground-to-air relay critical 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 advanced transceivers currently under development across the industry. FIRST RF proposes an innovative approach that leverages an innovative array architecture to provide a frequency-diverse communications node that uses airborne relays to facilitate BLOS communications. Commercial applications of this technology have also been identified.