Gilat has been developing its own Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) technology for Phased-Array Antennas since 2009. The company recently deployed fully operational air and ground antenna arrays and demonstrated their capabilities, including the transmission of real-time video.
The latest MMIC release includes Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) chipsets, for both Ku- and Ka- frequency bands, allowing for ultra-low-profile ESA antennas that are now commercially available. Gilat has received initial orders for its ESA antenna in Ku-band and will continue development of dedicated products for commercial air and ground applications.
“The growing demand for broadband in-flight connectivity over satellite has not yet been met with a high quality and affordable phased-array antenna. This is what Gilat will bring to the market,” said Moshe (Chico) Tamir, Corporate VP and Head of Gilat’s Strategic Initiatives Division. "Our unique technology, when combined with widely-used mass-production techniques, results in affordable ESA antennas with highly reliable tracking capabilities, built-in amplification and no moving parts. The scalable design of almost any array size allows for the mounting of our ultra-low-profile antennas, on wide- and narrow-body commercial aircraft, regional and business jets, and high-speed trains. The antenna can even be embedded into a vehicle's roof top. Our ESA/PAA technology can also provide affordable satellite connectivity solutions for new markets, such as the Internet of Things (IOT), Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and the Connected Car."