American General Atomics and Canadian Kepler Communications reported about the successful testing of the laser communication channel between an aircraft and a satellite. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the development of stable and high-speed data transfer capabilities that can be utilized by both military and commercial entities.
During the test, an optical terminal (OCT) from General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems division was installed on board a de Havillanda DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. The OCT was able to establish communication with the Kepler satellite in a low near-Earth orbit approximately 5,500 kilometers away. The system was compatible with the Transche 0 architecture developed by the US Space Development Agency (SDA).
The communication channel achieved a transfer speed of up to 1 Gbit/s during the flight, demonstrating that equipment from different manufacturers can work together seamlessly. The system operated reliably even when transmitting data from a moving aircraft to a satellite in space.
One of the main challenges in such projects is ensuring accurate positioning to capture signals, track targets, and maintain the beam at the reception site without interruptions. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems utilized an OCT 10-type terminal built into a 12-inch LAC-12 turret developed by the Aeronautical Systems unit. The full-size version is intended to operate at distances of up to 5,500 km with a bandwidth of up to 2.5 Gb/s.
The successful test validated the system’s ability to accurately track and maintain communication, confirming its potential for secure information transmission for operational and tactical missions. The experiment aligns with SDA’s efforts to establish a large low-earth orbit satellite constellation to provide global military communication capabilities.
General Atomics is set to deploy two additional terminals as part of a separate contract with the SDA, scheduled for launch in 2026. These tests will assess compatibility with the Transche 1 architecture and further expand the utilization of Air-Cosmos laser communication channels.
Meanwhile, Kepler Communications is developing its own low-orbit satellite group that also meets SDA requirements. This system aims to deliver high-speed services and test new technologies in environments where radio frequency channels are overloaded or susceptible to interference. The Pentagon, in its pursuit of connecting intelligence, weapons, and command centers, values optical communication lines that are resilient to jamming.