French DGA Orders Antares-LP Antenna from Thales

The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has placed an order for an Antares-LP (low profile) airborne active array satcom antenna prototype with Thales to develop satellite connectivity solutions for the armed forces.

The Antares-LP antenna operates in the Ka frequency band using sovereign and/or commercial satellites.

Armed Forces need complete high-throughput satellite communication solutions to meet aircraft connectivity requirements and maintain communications in some of the world’s most isolated theatres. The Antares-LP active array antenna uses a beam-forming technique, the company said in a statement Monday.

The DGA has conducted trials with the first Antares-LP prototype installed on a testbed aircraft at Cazaux in southwest France. Antares-LP features an optimally low-profile active antenna to facilitate integration on the aircraft, make the product more resilient and deliver improved connectivity performance in the air. In addition, Antares-LP offers global coverage while reducing operating costs for Armed Forces customers.

The tests, conducted in real-world conditions demonstrated the performance of the miniaturised Ka band technology and its compatibility with aircraft operations.