A new opportunity for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) via commercial Ka-band satellites

In the 1990s, the U.S. Department of Defense investigated a number of initiatives related to using Ka-band satellite systems as an integral part of the DoD commercial satellite backbone. The subsequent dotcom bubble burst effectively destroyed the Ka-band satellite initiatives that were either being designed or implemented at the time. Ka-band has now re-emerged at the same time the need for UAS transmission paths are dramatically increasing. Several systems have been launched. Others are planned to be launched. The projected environments and expectations are smaller and more realistic than the orginal concepts of Teledesic, Astrolink and Spaceway in the 1990s. What is the utility, if commercial Ka-band is available, of using those systems as a transmission medium to be used by American military forces and coalition partners? If this use if viable, what is the best strategy for employment and, as a corollary, what operations concept would ensure maximum benefit of that strategy? This paper examines the current environment and addresses these questions. It concludes that UAS transmissions via Ka-band satellite could be of substantial benefit, if used appropriately by the American military and its partners in the international community.