Artist’s rendition of the new Eutelsat Quantum class satellite. Photo: Airbus Defence and Space

[Via Satellite 01-08-2016] Airbus Defence and Space has awarded Anaren a $7 million contract for an advanced beamforming assembly to be deployed on the Eutelsat Quantum Satellite program, which Airbus Defence and Space is developing for Eutelsat, as part of a Public-Private funded partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). The Eutelsat Quantum program will feature a fully reconfigurable commercial satellite, allowing Eutelsat to adapt the satellite in response to new demands in coverage, bandwidth, power, frequency, and even changes in its orbital position. Anaren will deliver its first flight-set hardware to Airbus Defence and Space in 2017, with additional system tests and production anticipated over subsequent years.

Eutelsat Quantum features software-defined receive and transmit Ku-band coverage, on-board jamming detection and mitigation, and flexible beam-steering, frequency adjustments, and bandwidth reassignment functionality in order to accommodate customers’ needs or market demands.