The ThinAir GT 2517 antenna. Photo: ThinKom

ThinKom and Boeing report successful tests of the ThinAir GT 2517 antenna and modem hardware through a range of trials for government officials, ThinKom announced Feb. 5.

The demonstration combined ThinKom’s antenna with the Boeing WC-5000RU and Newtec MDM5010 modems in a customized configuration. The test trials included streaming video, high-speed file transfers and system resilience to link outages. 

The demonstration used Viasat’s GX Ka-band satellite network with HCX steerable beams and Military Ka-band frequencies to process communications. ThinKom reported the system delivered over 250 Mbps on the forward link and 110 Mbps on the return link from the ground. Its performance is expected to improve when operating above clouds.

“Combining our GT solutions with leading technology partners like Boeing’s modems and services delivers the best performance. This future-proof architecture ensures governments can easily and efficiently access the most resilient and secure networks wherever they operate,” said ThinKom CTO Bill Milroy.

ThinKom’s GT 2517 antenna has a Category 4 Type Approval certification in progress. It is also Army Forces Strategic Command certifiable for Wideband Global Satcom communications. ThinKom said the ThinAir GT 2517 offers spectral efficiency and aerodynamics to deliver high-speed connectivity and extended time on mission.