Honeywell tested multi-network satcom failover on 757 testbed

The test applied the PACE planning model, which military organizations have used for decades, to satellite links. The 757-200 serves as a command and control node while in flight, and Honeywell fits it with its own hardware, Forge software and network management tools. Connectivity from every satellite operator fed one Enterprise Management and Control analytics stack that monitored the aircraft and its onboard links in real time.

A JetWave MCX terminal, which runs on both commercial and military Ka-band networks, connects the crew to Inmarsat Global Xpress for the Primary phase. That commercial network also carries dedicated beams in the military Ka band. On entering the simulated theater, the crew moved to the Alternate option, the SES regional Ka-band network, whose dedicated military service uses GovSat Mil-Ka satellites. Packet loss during the switch averaged less than one second. During this stage, a Hughes HM-series modem connects to the JetWave MCX system. Together the two units resist interception, resist detection and withstand jamming.

The Contingency phase simulated denied Ka-band access. Metrics from the analytics stack can trigger fail-over to Inmarsat SwiftBroadband, an L-band network reached through an Aspire 400 terminal. In the Emergency phase, when other satellite signals are jammed or unavailable, the L-band Aspire systems, which also operate on the Iridium network, carry safety-service datalinks and 64 kbps cockpit messaging to other assets. On the return leg, the aircraft reconnected to the regional Ka-band network, then to Global Xpress.

Wes Cook, director of technical sales for Honeywell’s defense business, called the handoffs flawless. Further simulations were planned.

Why it matters

Honeywell Aerospace supplies satcom, navigation, sensing and power products to military and commercial operators. The test used a crewed testbed. Honeywell cited a multi-mission aircraft such as the C-130J as the kind of platform the approach serves, flying from its home base to the theater and back without losing connectivity.

Honeywell presents layered networks and metric-driven fail-over as a way to keep BVLOS communications running when links are jammed or denied.

The company also tests resilience on the navigation side, with alternative navigation for GNSS-denied flight.