As cyber-attacks become increasingly common and the weapon of choice for potential adversaries, Israeli company Orbit, which specializes in SATCOM terminals, is increasing its cybersecurity level thanks to its new NetShroud+ solution.
Until now, most cybersecurity solutions for satellite communications have been aimed at protecting data. Of course, this is an important issue in the world of SATCOM, but according to Orbit, cyberattacks aimed at severing satellite links can also target completely different areas of these systems. One of them is definitely the algorithms and mechanisms that allow us to keep the antenna pointed in the direction of the satellite. Of course, this also applies to directional antennas. Directional antennas typically transmit large amounts of data due to their high gain, wide bandwidth, and high throughput. These antennas are common on huge naval platforms, but now we see SATCOM directional antennas being installed on his SATCOM mobile systems on the ground and on fighter jets, and in the military world connectivity is becoming more important day by day.
If an adversary were to target the antenna control system, it would no longer be able to properly align with the satellite, effectively cutting off the link.
Orbit, which has more than 30 years of experience in SATCOM, primarily in the naval field, has added functionality to NetShroud+ in the form of a patented solution provided by Embedded Solutions, another Israeli cyber company. Pointing mechanism. According to Orbit, this solution does not affect the antenna control unit.
Orbit integrated this solution into its cybersecurity suite, thoroughly tested it, and brought it to market at DSEI 2023, but although it started showing it to customers two months before the show, all customers , I ignored this type of threat before it was explained to me. According to Orbit, company representatives said: This system can also be retrofitted to existing terminals, but this desire has not yet been realized. Orbit offers solutions not only for naval terminals such as the OceanTRX series, but also for ground-based SATCOM stations deployed in remote locations.
In addition to announcing new cyber defense solutions, the company, based in Netanya, about 25 kilometers north of Tel Aviv, is also currently proposing its MPT30 and MPT46 multipurpose terminals for naval applications. Designed for aircraft applications, its small size and light weight make it a perfect fit for small naval vessels such as high-speed patrol boats. Taking into account the strong demand for his SATCOMs on the move on ships of this category, Orbit decided to adapt them for naval use. Designed to withstand extremely severe stress conditions such as acceleration and vibration, the terminal is equipped with a radome that covers the parabolic antenna. As mentioned earlier, weight is one of the key competitive factors. The MPT30 with a 30 cm diameter antenna weighs only 9.5 kg, while the MPT46 with a 46 cm antenna weighs 14.25 kg. This is a considerable advantage considering that SATCOM terminals tend to be installed high on the superstructure and therefore moved to the top of the center. of gravity. This could be even more important for unmanned surface vessels, which are even smaller and lighter than manned vessels. EDR Online understood that Orbit was in talks with “relevant stakeholders” on the subject of installing MPT30s on submarines, but no further details were provided and the most important issue here is It is a radome.
Photo courtesy of P. Valpolini