AUSA 2026: JSOC to test new Thales multi-orbit satcom terminal

Thales' new Raider Blade electronically scanned array multi-band, multi-orbit terminal (Janes/Carlo Munoz)

Combat communications company Thales is preparing to deliver its latest multi-band satellite communications (satcom) terminal to US Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) for testing and evaluation, Janes has learned.

JSOC personnel will begin command-level testing and evaluation of the new Raider Blade electronically scanned array (ESA) satellite communications (satcom) terminal, company officials said during a 12 October interview. Developed by Thales subsidiary Tampa Microwave, the man-packable Raider Blade ESA terminal can receive and transmit satcom signals across Ka and Ku bands, officials said during the interview at the Association of the United States Army's annual symposium in Washington, DC.

The multi-band receiver can also support data exchanges from satcom constellations at low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO) and geosynchronous orbit (GEO), the officials said. Aside from satcom capability, the JSOC-developed terminal will also feature embedded modems to support Eutelsat OneWeb and Amazon LEO satellite internet modems, according to a Thales fact sheet.

The officials could not comment as to what types of operational scenarios the platform will be tested on during the JSOC evaluations.

The decision to integrate an Amazon LEO satellite internet capability was made at the request of JSOC, company officials said noting that a US Navy (USN) variant currently under development will feature different satellite internet services. Aside from the satellite internet capability, the USN variant will likely feature larger format ESA panels, according to company officials.

Internet service on orbit can be supported by the Raider Blade platform itself or can be augmented with an external “mPower MEO or GEO [high throughput satellite] modem,” according to a company fact sheet.