Just before the big Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Thales confirmed the exclusive news broke by RGN at Satellite 2024 in D.C. — the aerospace giant has indeed acquired multi-beam antenna-maker Get SAT.
“Thales confirms the acquisition of this innovative, world-class communications start-up. Get SAT manufactures antennas dedicated to satellite communications, notably for companies in the defense, civil aeronautics and emergency services sectors,” Beth Larson, VP of communications at Thales North America, tells RGN.
Asked why this acquisition makes sense for Thales, she says:
Get SAT manufactures antennas dedicated to satellite communications, notably for companies in the defense, civil aeronautics and emergency services sectors.
Get SAT will complement and enhance Thales’ existing Satcom business, around the world, and more generally enhance Thales’ existing secure satellite communication offering and leading position in communications integration.
Get SAT is providing its ‘Lesa Blade’ aero ESA to Safran Passenger Innovations for incorporation into the SPI terminal that is facilitating the Ku-band side of the Airbus supplier-furnished HBCplus program.
Airbus recently successfully flight-tested Get SAT hardware on an A310 MRTT multi-role tanker transport aircraft. The full Airbus HBCplus package, via Safran, is under development, with Airbus eyeing 2026 for availability to airlines. Panasonic Avionics and Intelsat are Ku-band managed service providers on the program.
(The Ka-band side of HBCplus uses an SPI terminal based on ThinKom Solutions’ Ka2517 VICTS antenna; Viasat and SES are MSPs. Emirates is a launch customer. SES recently announced plans to acquire Intelsat, which will give it positioning as MSP on both the Ku- and Ka-band sides of HBCplus.)
As to whether Thales will offer a retrofit solution of the multi-orbit, multi-beam Get SAT ESA in the near-term, Larson says: “While we cannot comment on future product evolution, we are always looking to further strengthen our offering with best-in-class technology to unleash the benefits of satellite connectivity for our customers.”
Thales has been on a buying spree of late, having also recently acquired Cobham Aerospace Communications, which is a key player in the L-band cockpit comms and safety services hardware realm, and elsewhere aboard commercial aircraft.
The Get SAT Lesa Blade Ku-band Rx and Tx panel hardware on display at Satellite 2024. Image: Mary Kirby
Together with the Get SAT buy, Thales is securing its position on aircraft flying now and in the future in a material way… after some disappointments during the Covid era.
Related Articles:
- Airbus successfully flight tests Get SAT antenna for HBCplus
- Safran sits pretty as Airbus breaks vertical integration of IFC
- Seamless’ category system for IFC antennas rates Airbus Type 4
- Airbus adds Intelsat and Panasonic as MSPs for HBCplus
Featured image credited to Get SAT
