Lockheed builds new hybrid satellite dish tech

Lockheed Martin has developed a satellite antenna that could be used in remote sensing, radar and 5G communications.

The company said Monday the Wide Angle ESA Fed Reflector antenna is part of its investment in the research and development of 5G.MIL technologies to link warfighting platforms in support of the Department of Defense’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control initiative.

Chris Herring, vice president of advanced program development at Lockheed’s space business, said the WAEFR antenna and other 5G.MIL technologies seek to bring new data capabilities, faster networks and connectivity to clients as they navigate the challenges of 21st century battlefields.

WAEFR is a hybrid of a parabolic dish and a phased array electronically steerable antenna and is a low-size, weight and power satellite dish to accommodate any ground terminal or orbital application. The antenna features 3D printing tech advances and ESA platforms’ beam agility.

The company’s development team performed prototyping and tested the antenna system within months. ExecutiveBiz