This third contract is in addition to the 15 antenna systems that have been delivered by Overwatch Tactical Operations and are in service with the RAN. This order will enable the Advanced SATCOM Terrestrial Infrastructure System (ASTIS) prime contractor to supply three new RAN air warfare destroyers (AWD) and two new amphibious ships (LHD) with dual antenna systems capable of simultaneous dual band satellite communications. Supporting shipboard-based communication needs for the RAN, the antenna and feed uses Overwatch Tactical Operations’ patented multiband feed technology. Multiband antenna systems, specifically simultaneous multiband, allow one antenna to perform the duties once required of multiple antenna terminals. In a shipboard environment, combining two frequency bands into one antenna saves limited deck space and increases operational flexibility to match the capabilities of the satellite being used. For the RAN, an Optus satellite provides transmit and receive capability in both X- and Ka-band, simultaneously. In the future, Australia has signed on for the sixth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite as a joint effort with the U.S and will use it for X/Ka services.
At the heart of this antenna is Overwatch Tactical Operations’ patented feed and lens technology. Using a proven coaxial cavity design for individual frequency bands produces a feed which provides separate, electrically isolated outputs for each desired band, in the desired polarization orientation. In conjunction with the basic feed design, a patented lens technology is used to focus the resulting feed based on the antenna aperture (shape and size) to meet the gain and efficiency requirements. Throughout the previous two ASTIS programs, Overwatch Tactical Operations developed products with several key vendors. For the shipboard radome and the electroformed waveguide sections that meet the low passive intermodulation requirements, Overwatch Tactical Operations will again use MFG Galileo and GD-C4 Systems respectively to deliver a product that has proven its viability as the MILSATCOM antenna for the RAN.