Engineers unlock data corridor

UAVs, or ‘unmanned air vehicles’, need to be able to transfer large amounts of data quickly and securely during missions.

By using the Ka band, data can bypass congested satellite pathways which are crowded with data generated by non-military sources.

Experts working at BAE Systems Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS) business, with engineers from aerospace company Astrium, have found a way to use a ‘communications corridor’ within the Ka-band to send large amounts of data into space.

John Airey, of BAE Systems, said: “Tapping into this communications frequency is the equivalent of a home internet user switching from an old copper wire modem connection to fibre optic broadband.

“Transferring data in this way offers advantages especially for UAVs which need to quickly and securely transfer large amounts of data during mission phases.”

He added: “As UAV technology becomes more complex and the demand for these kind of connections greater; it will be those businesses at the forefront of this technology which will prosper.”

The trial took place at Astrium’s advanced manufacturing facility in Poynton, Cheshire, and was the culmination of two years’ work by BAE Systems, Astrium and satellite provider Avanti Communications.