TEKEVER AR5 UAV successfully deployed using SES's Governmental Pooling and Sharing System Tekever and Get SAT collaborated in the framework of the SES-led ESA project PACIS-1, designed to guarantee communication services to governments and organisations through Pooling and Sharing
Lisbon, Portugal | October 21, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Tekever, a global aerospace and defence company, announced the successful deployment of the Tekever UAV AR5 over Portugal’s west coast, using satellite communications services developed in the framework of the European Space Agency (ESA) programme aimed at developing Pooling and Sharing systems. Known as PACIS-1, the project was deployed by the consortium led by SES’s wholly owned subsidiary SES Techcom.
SES Techcom’s ISR demonstration in Portugal was enabled by the company’s high-performance managed satellite communications service which seamlessly integrated the ecosystem partners’ capabilities. As part of the demo, Get SAT’s innovative multi-orbit terminal supported the mission requirements needed at a low SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) to complete the mission. Once airborne, the terminal was activated for the Beyond Radio Line of Sight mission, with SES’s ubiquitous coverage via satcom providing connectivity for the flight. Tekever’s AR5 UAV live streamed HD video and collected data from the Maritime Moving Target Indicator (MMTI), video footage, and electro-optical/infra-red (EO/IR).
“As part of the PACIS-1 project with ESA, we brought together an ecosystem of partners to develop the Pooling and Sharing System that benefits governmental and institutional end users, giving them access to top of the range defence and civil capabilities in the most efficient way, anytime they need it,” said Alan Kuresevic, Managing Director at SES Techcom. “The demonstration we held in Portugal showcased a seamless high-performance ISR service that integrates partner capabilities and that is enabled via a satellite communications network. Through access to SES’s multi-orbit fleet, more of secure and resilient communications on the move can be enabled, ensuring reach for all types of critical operations, whether in the air, at sea or on land.”
“We are very glad to take part of the multiple end user satellite service demonstrations conducted during this project and contribute to showcase the benefits of Pooling and Sharing systems”, said Ricardo Mendes, Tekever CEO. “They truly enhance Tekever AR5 performance and address the needs of European governments for simple and easy access to secure satellite communications that can leverage their existing operational capabilities in areas such as civil protection and maritime surveillance”.
“We were pleased with the resiliency and beam switching demonstrated during this deployment”, said Kfir Benjamin, CEO at Get SAT. “During the course of the mission the Get SAT terminal provided the necessary throughput and demonstrated its multiple-satellite support capabilities”.
The PACIS-1 project led by SES Techcom is intended to provide Governments and Institutions with secure services over different governmental and commercial satellites and across several frequency bands. Once fully operational, the PACIS-1 project will offer users guaranteed service access, so they can quickly communicate anytime, anywhere.
Get SAT offers compact, all-in-one, innovative, multi-band SATCOM solutions that are deployable on platforms across sea, land and airborne operational environments. Get SAT units operate on both GEO and MEO satellite constellations and support seamless data transfer over satellite links. For the demo in Portugal, the Get SAT Milli SAT H LW KU band with 55W BUC terminal secured a link within three minutes.
About TEKEVER
TEKEVER offers a revolutionary UAS-based surveillance-as-a-service solution, delivering actionable real-time intelligence across ultra-wide areas. With absolute focus on gathering intelligence to support the most demanding missions, TEKEVER’s UAS product-line is designed and engineered to deliver the most advanced technical and operational capabilities, with extreme ease of use, and a business model that makes easily available at a global scale. TEKEVER has Engineering and Production facilities in the United Kingdom and Portugal, and works closely with a global partner network to provide local support to customers worldwide.
The PACIS-1 project dovetails with Tekever’s European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) contract to establish Europe’s first unmanned commercial maritime surveillance and environmental monitoring services, which could be worth as much as EUR 77 million. The solution is being used to monitor trafficking, illegal migration, and IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishing.
POC:
Filipa Martins
SES Techcom is a wholly owned subsidiary of SES that develops and delivers innovative and tailored end-to-end satellite-enabled solutions and services to governmental, institutional and supranational partners and customers. Leveraging its expertise in managing complex system integration projects, the company is a longstanding partner for institutional customers such as the European Commission and ESA on quantum communication infrastructure, navigation, defence & security, humanitarian and disaster response initiatives. Further information is available at: www.ses-techcom.com
PACIS-1
PACIS-1 is part of the ESA programme aimed at developing Pooling and Sharing Systems (artes.esa.int/4s-govsatcom-precursor) and the first step in demonstrating how the European space industry can support the European Union’s GOVSATCOM initiative and leverage governmental and commercial satellite services to provide secure access to satellite communications for a wide range of governmental applications. The project led by SES’s fully owned affiliate SES Techcom, was designed to put in place the architecture and service concept of PACIS-1, leveraging the space assets and ground infrastructure of the stakeholders involved in the project. Other industrial partners that have joined the consortium included Redu Space Services, GovSat, ST Engineering iDirect (Europe), QinetiQ and Tekever, and provided specific technological contributions, including engineering, satellite capacity, commercial, project management and other services.
About SES
SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on Earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world’s only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world’s leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES’s video network carries over 8,650 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 361 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com.
About Get SAT
Get SAT is the leading provider of Micronized Satellite Terminals. The InterFlat is the latest breakthrough in antenna panel technology, providing the world’s highest efficiency performance in the smallest package. Combining the InterFlat with our state-of-the-art control and tracking mechanism, creates the most powerful and fully contained satellite terminal system. The InterFlat is a leap forward in capability and SWaP, enabling us to provide truly portable, full duplex, wide-band satellite communications. GetSAT customers include top tier defence, commercial and technology companies. The Get SAT team is composed of industry leading experts with multi-disciplinary skills, dedicated to providing an exceptional, agile and affordable customer experience. Further information is available at: www.getsat.com
Get SAT CONTACT:
Ayala Pinhasi
+972-76-5300700
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. European Space Agency (esa.int)
TIA
The Telecommunications and Integrated Applications Directorate (TIA) supports innovation to boost the competitiveness of European industry in the global space market. This involves a wide range of activities, from space-based technology, systems, product for telecommunications development to the down-to-Earth application of space-based services. It also calls for engagement with a wide range of industrial, academic and institutional partners.
Contact Details
Ayala Pinhasi
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