Engineering:Satcom On The Move

Satcom on the Move (SOTM), or satellite communications on the move, is a phrase used in the context of mobile satellite technology, specifically relating to military ground vehicles, Maritime and Airborne platforms. The basic principle behind Satcom On The Move is that a vehicle equipped with a satellite antenna is able to establish communication with a satellite and maintain that communication while the vehicle is moving.

Modern Military Operations often employ commercial satellites to fulfill theater capacity requirements. However, as modern military warfare is highly asymmetric and mobile, military units desire a SATCOM-on-the-move system. Currently, military units procure this capability from SOTM vendors such as Getsat, EM Solutions, Alico Systems, Boeing, Gilat Satellite Networks, Comtech Mobile, Datapath, General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies, iDirect, Inmarsat (BGAN), L3, Raytheon, Exelis or ViaSat. More recently Spectra Group (UK) Ltd has introduced SlingShot - a lightweight unit that converts existing tactical radios to SATCOM frequencies, offering a straightforward and cost-effective way to achieve tactical, secure, satcom on the move for those using UHF and VHF radios Comparison between these systems is difficult due to the differences between the technologies and service offerings. Military procurements might benefit from a common set of system requirements from which to evaluate different systems and product offerings. This article presents a survey of the SOTM market, product offerings, and technologies. It concludes with a summary of system technical requirements and drivers for the operation of MILSATCOM-on-the-Move over commercial satellite systems.

History

In recent years, the United States military has expressed high levels of interest in Satcom On The Move technology, driven by former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's call for lighter-weight, more mobile ground forces. This has pushed the commercial satellite industry to create communications satellite systems that support this need.

External links

• Getsat - Micronizing satellite communication
• MUOS system as instance of SatCom On The Move
• Alico Systems X-band SATCOM On The Move
• Gilat Satellite Networks
• INSTER: Low Profile Satcom On-The-Move
• Exelis SATCOM On The Move Solutions
• SlingShot in Defence

References

• Finer Feelers
• Tactical Satellite Communications Networks
• Homeland Security: In Touch, On The Move
• [1]
• What is Comms on The Move