A new multi-orbit electronically steered antenna (ESA) for aircraft has been developed by satellite ground-systems technology company ThinKom. The ThinAir Nexus is designed for ease of installation and compatibility with multiple geostationary Earth orbit (GEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation systems and is packaged in a smaller form factor engineered to rival other single-orbit ESA systems.
The ESA is based on the company’s patented low-power VICTS open network architecture technology, which has garnered 65 million hours of on-wing operating experience. VICTS supports existing GEO and non-GEO constellations, including SES Open Orbits, Hughes JUPITER In-Flight, Telesat Lightspeed and multiple sovereign networks. The new Nexus ESA comes can be combined with a modem that can be integrated on the antenna outside the fuselage to minimize interior impact, or a multi-modem MODMAN as interior equipment to boost constellation compatibility and network redundancy.
Source: ThinKom
“Airlines demand and deserve flexibility and reliability as they invest in inflight internet solutions,” explained Jeff Sare, ThinKom’s chief commercial officer. “Our new ThinAir Nexus solution delivers the most efficient and reliable multi-orbit, multi-constellation antenna to ever fly, now space-optimized for a smaller installation footprint.”
