In-Flight Connectivity services through satellite systems is expected to grow exponentially throughout the 2020 decade. The deployment of high throughput satellites and mega-constellations in low and medium earth orbits will result in higher demand and lower running costs. However, in addition to harsh environmental conditions, antenna systems must overcome important challenges derived from heterogenous scenarios and the associated regulations. This paper focuses on these aspects and proposes smart apertures based on electronically steerable antennas to enable multiple beam and fast steering capabilities and to mitigate the restrictions of emission in the geostationary arc.

In-flight communication (IFC) services offered to passengers and crew are of great importance to the air transport sector. The improvement of the satellite capacity with High Throughput Satellites (HTS) in GEO and the advent of MEO and LEO constellations will support the forecast growth of the IFC market. Antenna equipment for satellite communications will need to address multiple scenarios from G2G (Gate-to-Gate) to multi-operation under GEO-MEO-LEO systems. Under these conditions, antennas with the ability to track multiple satellites and having superior performance and reliability will play a key role. Electronically steered antennas (ESA) have emerged as a viable solution in response to these demands. The EU-funded LESAF project proposes an ESA solution of reduced size and greater efficiency for the next generation of in-flight connectivity services. This will be managed through the requirements definition, system analysis, technology assessment, prototyping and validation of ESAs. The project has successfully passed the first milestone corresponding to requirements consolidation, baseline architecture definition and candidate technology trade-offs. Multi-beam Electronically Steered Antennas, separated apertures for both transmission and reception, a flexible modular approach coupled with planar multilayer integration and an advanced beamformer design are the basis for the proposed concept. The following project phase will be focused on the design and validation of an antenna demonstrator aimed at proving the superior added value of ESAs technological solution for the aviation industry needs.

A multi-beam antenna with a dual band operation in the 28 GHz and 31 GHz millimeter wave band is presented. The antenna has a gain of around 15 dBi in each of the three ports. The spatial footprint of the antenna is 166 mm x 123 mm x 34 mm. A waveguide lens-based approach is used to attain this gain. Cylindrical to planar wavefront transformation by a phase extraction and compensation method drives the design of the antenna. The dual band operation of the antenna aids in transmitting and receiving at two independent frequencies. Three beams originating from a shared aperture are designed to target directions of -60deg, 0deg and 60deg. These features make the antenna a potential candidate for 5G millimeter wave applications.

This paper presents the design basis, development and main results for a KU-Band RF Aperture Assembly for Airborne SOTM (SatCom on the Move) comprising the main aspects: the antenna panel, low noise amplification and both Rx and Tx structures for polarisation Skew. The aperture consists of a flat wideband antenna panel, diplexer, low noise amplifiers and independent polarization control to receive and transmit Ku-band. The block provides full duplex receiving and transmission functionality and all the requirements for aeroplane operation when integrated into a SOTM whole system. The block exhibits key characteristics, a high integration level and performance.

This paper describes the main features of a low cost and compact Ka-band satcom terminal being developed within the ESA-project LOCOMO. The terminal will be compliant with all capacities associated with communication on the move supplying higher quality, better performance and faster speed services than the current available solutions in Ku band. The terminal will be based on a dual polarized low profile Ka-band antenna with TX and RX capabilities.

This technical paper aims at presenting the design, development and testing activities of the prototype of the TTI Low Profile Ku-Band Transmit/Receive Terminal ODU for satellite mobile communications. The paper also highlights the lessons learnt from these activities performed at prototype level, in order to improve and optimize some design aspects. In particular, some improvements implemented on the terminal, and related to the ease of manufacturing, assembling and testing are presented. These aspects are of primary importance when serial manufacturing is considered.

This technical paper aims at presenting the design, development and testing activities of the prototype of the TTI Low Profile Ku-Band Transmit/Receive Terminal ODU for satellite mobile communications. The paper also highlights the lessons learnt from these activities performed at prototype level, in order to improve and optimize some design aspects. In particular, some improvements implemented on the terminal, and related to the ease of manufacturing, assembling and testing are presented. These aspects are of primary importance when serial manufacturing is considered.

This technical paper introduces the key aspects of the new TTI Low Profile Ku-Band Transmit/Receive Terminal ODU for satellite mobile communications, describing aspects related to the design, manufacturing and testing.

This paper presents the design and development of a module of a phased-array antenna for multimedia contents reception in mobile avionics applications. The antenna, which operates in Ku band (12.5 GHz to 12.75 GHz), is based on a modular design. The developed antenna & RF front-end module is implemented in multilayer technology and it has been tested from an electrical, mechanical and thermal point of view. The results presented in this paper are the results of the work developed under the project MULFUN, "Multifunctional Structures", a VI Framework EC project. The objective was to reduce costs and provide added value to avionics equipment by integration of electrical, mechanical and thermal functions.