By David Kaminski-Morrow2021-04-08T09:40:00+01:00
Airbus is aiming to integrate a laser-based communications demonstrator on an aircraft for flight testing by the middle of next year.
The project, known as UltraAir, is intended to demonstrate high-speed data rate communications with geostationary satellites.
Airbus and the Dutch applied scientific research organisation TNO will jointly design and test the system which, the airframer says, will offer “unprecedented” transmissions in the range of gigabits – billions of data bits – per second.
Laser-based systems use frequencies outside the normal radio spectrum of conventional satcom, which is becoming increasingly congested.
TNO says narrow-beam laser communication is less susceptible to interference and interception, providing data security and resilience.