[Satellite TODAY 02-28-13] Inmarsat has announced the expansion of mobile tactical Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communications to a broader range of new government users through the company’s L-band satellites. 

   The company plans to launch L-TAC, a new L-band service, which will deliver a ‘UHF-like’ tactical satellite capability for use with existing UHF tactical radios for approved government customers at low cost. The new service will complement and expand the company’s existing UHF tactical capacity by using its Inmarsat-4 constellation of satellites, which provide this capability across the world while also supporting small antennas for BLOS communications on the move.

   Inmarsat has partnered with Spectra Group to develop the Slingshot adaptor, a small antenna that replaces the existing UHF antenna on existing tactical military radios. Inmarsat’s L-TAC leased service, together with Slingshot, will allow users to lease the service for a fixed period as short as one month.