CTech delivers equator-optimised satcom to Asian country

CTech's SkyARX Ku-20 Qx airborne terminal. (CTech)

Turkish firm CTech has delivered satellite communications (satcom) systems to support unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) exported to an Asian country operating in the equatorial region.

The company said the delivery features its SkyARX Ku-20 Qx airborne terminal, which has been adapted for the specific tracking challenges associated with geostationary satellites positioned directly above the equator.

UAVs conducting beyond-line-of-sight missions rely on satcom to transmit high-definition video; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data; and command-and-control information. However, in equatorial areas the satellite appears almost overhead, requiring the aircraft-mounted antenna to point at elevation angles approaching 90°.

Conventional three-axis stabilised antennas struggle in this geometry, as the required tracking speed and acceleration increase sharply near the zenith – an issue commonly referred to as the ‘keyhole effect'. This can result in intermittent tracking or the temporary loss of a link.

To mitigate this challenge, CTech said it has developed a four-axis antenna architecture for the SkyARX Ku-20 Qx terminal. According to CTech CEO Cüneyd Fırat, this antenna incorporates a cross-elevation axis in addition to the traditional azimuth, elevation, and polarisation axes, reducing mechanical stress and maintaining accurate tracking at high elevation angles.

According to CTech, the system provides 0.2° RMS (root mean square) tracking accuracy and improved stabilisation against aircraft roll, making it suitable for UAV platforms operating in turbulent or dynamic flight conditions.

The Ku-band terminal supports DVB-S2 with VCM/ACM, AES-256 encryption, and uplink power control. It is qualified to MIL-STD-810G, MIL-STD-461E, and MIL-STD-704F standards, and is certified for operation up to 45,000 ft. CTech states that the solution is designed to ensure uninterrupted, secure connectivity for ISR and command missions in regions where airborne satcom links typically face their greatest limitations.