Orbit, known for its larger maritime and airborne SATCOM terminals, is now moving into the compact systems market. The company showcased its MPT 30 and MPT 46 terminals, as well as the MPT-60 and MPT-87, which are stabilised VSAT systems operating in the Ka and Ku frequency bands.
These compact systems are designed for installation on small ships and unmanned surface vessels (USVs). They offer reliable and fast broadband communication, even in harsh environmental conditions. Additionally, the low-size, low-weight, and low-power (SWaP) user terminals do not compromise the ship’s stability.
According to a company representative, these terminals can deliver more than 126Mbps forward link and 29Mbps return link, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity during all mission phases. Even in the presence of strong emissions from a ship’s sensor systems, the MPT terminals continue to operate without interruption. In one test, a terminal successfully sent five Full HD video signals simultaneously.
The idea of expanding into the marine market is based on Orbit’s existing airborne MPT family, which has already been used in crewed aircraft and medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Orbit CEO, Dany Eshchar, stated that the MPT-30 and MPT-46 systems have already been installed and proven on various mobile platforms worldwide. With the growing use of unmanned marine vessels and the demand for compact and reliable solutions, Orbit has expanded the capabilities of these systems to meet the needs of the marine environment. Continuous communication and the transfer of high volumes of data, including video, are vital for the successful completion of complex missions like protecting maritime borders, conducting ISTAR missions, and preventing smuggling.
The main difference between the MPT family SATCOM terminals is the antenna size, ranging from 30 to 87cm, and weight, ranging from 10 to 28kg. All terminals have a 360-degree continuous azimuth range and a mechanical elevation range from 0 to 90 degrees.
For added security, the terminals can be equipped with an OceanTRx cybersecurity package, which provides low-latency encryption and defends against ransomware attacks aimed at disrupting satellite connection.