Thales Defense & Security

When the paths of two industry-leading innovators converge, the effect is profound; this union heralds an era of innovation, resilience and boundless opportunity. The aerospace and defense industry witnessed something similar when Thales Defense & Security (TDSI), a manufacturer of tactical communication equipment provider, joined hands with Tampa Microwave.

An expert in the design, development and manufacture of military-grade man-pack and satellite communication (SATCOM) terminals, Tampa began its journey in the 1980s by developing advanced microwave components like phase lock loop oscillators and block-up/down converters. Smaller, lighter and modular, the devices are ideal for military SATCOM. Tampa integrated these components into satellite terminals, providing solutions for man-packable applications. Today, the U.S. Army comprises over 60 percent of Tampa’s client base, enabling it to keep a pulse on the defense community’s evolving needs.

TDSI is renowned for mission-critical communication systems, including tactical radios, SATCOM terminals, sonar systems and sensor technology for defense and commercial markets.

The partnership between these leaders is a game-changer as Tampa’s strategic focus areas complement TDSI’s products and expand its capabilities in the SATCOM domain. Following the acquisition, Tampa operates as a TDSI subsidiary under the proxy agreement with the DOD. This investment is described as a leap toward further diversification of communication technology to meet the critical challenges facing warfighters on battlefields.

“The Geopolitical climate is evolving from a focus on counterinsurgency operations to facing more formidable, near-peer threats, placing higher demands on secure, pervasive and high-throughput communications, and innovations in SATCOM technologies addresses these demands. The spotlight is on portable, reliable, secure and on-the-move solutions that operate over low-latency, non-geosynchronous orbits,” says Aaron Brosnan, President of Tampa Microwave. “The future of SATCOM lies in hybrid architectures, blending military and commercial constellations to leverage the reliability and security of traditional military networks with the performance of commercial networks.” The combination gives the warfighter more options, increased flexibility, better resilience and higher performance out of their transport layer.

Here, Tampa’s expertise in developing small and light solutions with modular designs is highly valued. The products, whether 65, 95, or 130-centimeter terminals, use the same set of components: standard transceivers, power supplies, modem modules and even antennas in some cases. This standardized design ensures adaptability across scenarios, regardless of terminal size. It allows seamless transitions between various network configurations, giving users more flexibility. For instance, users can seamlessly switch from a Ka-band, FDMA based networks on a 65-centimeter antenna to a 130-centimeter, X-band nTDMA–based network in the field and in a manner of minutes.

Tampa incorporates cutting-edge technologies to develop advanced capabilities for anticipated Department of Defense on-the-move network connectivity needs, a departure from at-the-halt stationary access to military only GEO networks. The objective is to deliver a compact terminal form factor that can easily transition from dismounted to mounted applications dynamically. This modular and flexible approach addresses the warfighter’s need to rapidly transition between networks and orbits, whether LEO, MEO, GEO or HEO.

As an example, an existing customer recently approached Tampa Microwave with a requirement that substantiates the company’s value proposition. A military client wanted to upgrade their widely fielded, GEO-only satellite terminals to achieve higher levels of transport diversity and resilience. The existing terminals operated on a single, military satellite network, limiting their ability to switch to alternative satellites when compromised. Tampa accepted the challenge and is developing a multi-orbit, field upgradable package, enabling the conversion of GEO-only terminals to support other, commercial Non-GEO Synchronous Orbit (NGSO) networks. This affordable, easy-to-implement solution allowed for a rapid path to the emerging multi-orbit requirement while also safeguarding their past investments.

Tampa credits this achievement to its diverse workforce, consisting of ex-veterans and experts from diverse backgrounds. With such extensive industry expertise, Tampa is gearing up to craft next-generation solutions. The company is now focused on developing and bringing to market electronically steerable antenna (ESA) based terminal solutions for dynamic, multi-orbit connectivity to further enhance mission capabilities. The aim is to deliver modular, compact and lightweight products suitable for man-packable and vehicle-mounted applications while allowing quick transition and facilitating multi-band and multi-orbit capabilities within a single terminal. Novel approaches are also being employed to mitigate electromagnetic interference and optimize performance.

The company explores new technological avenues to augment decision-making for network selection and access while ensuring flexibility to move/establish command posts on the fly. This roadmap reflects the company’s mission, “connecting heroes, protecting lives,” reaffirming its commitment to providing innovative solutions that will enhance mission-critical operations.