the USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000). Photo: U.S. Navy

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) awarded Thinkom Solutions a contract for next-generation communications on U.S. Navy ships. ThinKom will test and evaluate one of its Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) aeronautical phased-array antenna systems as a solution for the seven-month contract.

Specifically, ThinKom is delivering a ThinAir Ka2517 antenna system for on-board testing to meet U.S. Navy requirements for Multi-Domain Tactical Communications (MDTC). The Ka-band antenna is based on the company’s VICTS technology, and is currently installed on more than 1,550 commercial aircraft.

“ThinKom’s VICTS technology currently meets all of the DIU requirements for a low-cost, low-risk COTS solution that can be deployed on a DDG-1000 class destroyer,” said Bill Milroy, chief technology officer for ThinKom Solutions. “With millions of hours of service under the extreme dynamic and environmental conditions of modern commercial and military jet aircraft, ThinKom’s low-profile, compact VICTS antennas are ideally positioned to meet the Navy’s performance requirements on a platform at sea.”