Boeing picks Lite Coms for Aussie BLOS SATCOM terminals

SINGAPORE — US company Lite Coms has been selected by Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) to provide Beyond Line-Of-Sight (BLOS) Satellite Communications (SATCOM) terminals for an Australian program. 

Lite Coms said in an emailed press release on Tuesday that it will provide its LITE SAT 1.3A tactical satellite terminals to BDA in support of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) LAND 4140 Land Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4I) modernization program. 

According to the company, the LITE SAT 1.3A is a “lightweight, rugged, auto-acquire satellite terminal engineered for military and government operations.”

It added that the terminal is built of a durable carbon fiber reflector and is designed for a “fast, tool-free deployment” and “delivers secure, resilient, high-performance beyond line-of-sight connectivity for mission-critical operations.” 

CEO of Lite Coms Bob Jacobsen said that the company was “thrilled” to have been selected for the program. 

 “We believe this continues to showcase the industry leading capability of the Lite Sat 1.3 and the value that Lite Coms offers our customers.”

According to the Australian military, LAND 4140 “will modernise and enhance Land C4 systems in order to deliver decision-making superiority and improve the Command and Control, intelligence, sensors, and weapon system effectors, essential for the conduct of Joint Land Force operations.”

BDA had been selected by the Australian government in August to deliver Class Two BLOS SATCOM ground terminals to “enable faster, uninterrupted and more reliable connectivity in increasingly complex and contested operational environments.”

Matt Buckle, BDA’s director of Joint Systems, said at the time that the capability would provide multi-domain connection for Australia’s integrated military. 

“Underpinned by high-speed, wideband SATCOM links, the advanced BLOS system will ensure uninterrupted data flow that allows the Australian Defence Force to connect when needed and operate with confidence when it matters most,” he said in a company press release at the time.

BDA had previously been appointed to be the systems integrator for the Battle Management System that is also being delivered under Australia’s LAND 4140 program.