Search

General Atomics and Kepler Demonstrate Air-to-Space Optical Communications

General Atomics and Kepler Demonstrate Air-to-Space Optical Communications
GA-EMS Optical Communication Terminal (OCT) mounted on an aircraft. Photo: General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) and Kepler Communications have reported a successful air-to-space optical communications demonstration using Space Development Agency (SDA)-compliant optical terminals. The demonstration announced Tuesday took place between a GA-EMS optical communications terminal mounted to a Twin Otter aircraft and a Kepler satellite in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), demonstrating exchanging data between a moving aircraft and a satellite in orbit. The demonstration test campaign took place from late July to late August and was done under SDA contract, a representative for General Atomics confirmed…

Subscriber-only content. Please log in below.

Not a subscriber or registered user yet?

Please contact us at clientservices@accessintel.com or call us at 888-707-5814 (Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET.), to start a free trial, get pricing information, order a reprint, or post an article link on your website.



Congress Updates

Slotkin: Pentagon Should Use Anthropic’s Mythos To Spot Cyber Security Gaps

The Pentagon should be using Anthropic‘s recently announced Mythos artificial intelligence model to spot gaps in cyber security, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) said on Tuesda. “I think the thing that […]


Budd And Shaheen Bill Would Authorize 329 F-15EX Fighters

Two members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), have introduced the Airpower Acceleration Act, which would authorize multi-year procurements of […]


HASC’s Wittman Sees ‘Challenging’ Push For $350B In Reconciliation Funds, Wants Sustained Defense Increase

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.– Congress’ work to pass $350 billion in reconciliation funds to support the Trump administration’s push for a $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 defense topline is “going to […]


Army Secretary Says “We Need To Over-Invest in FLRAA To Get It Online As Quickly As Possible”

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee’s defense panel (HAC-D), said on Thursday that the Army’s budget plan beginning in fiscal 2027 has more than $2 billion […]