Cubic Defense is actively seeking military clients for its innovative flat-panel satellite communications terminal, engineered for seamless operation across various orbits and networks. This development underscores the increasing importance of resilient and adaptable communication solutions for the modern battlefield.
The San Diego-based military technology contractor developed its electronically scanned array satellite terminals with the support of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Information Directorate (AFRL). The lab recently extended funding for ongoing development until mid-2027, continuing the long-standing Halo-Enabled Resilient Mesh project. According to a 2023 AFRL contract announcement, the Halo mesh development deal is valued at $8.8 million. This program, initiated approximately a decade ago, is focused on creating resilient, adaptive networking capabilities to support operations in challenging environments.
Dan Moran, vice president and general manager for secure communications at Cubic Defense, mentioned that the company is unable to disclose the specific value of the latest contract option.
The company has rebranded the Halo terminals as Vector. These terminals are designed for use in “highly contested electromagnetic spectrum threat environments” and to meet a growing Pentagon demand for “multi-domain” networks linking operations across land, air, and space, Moran told SpaceNews. “Our technology has built off some of the earlier work under Halo contracts,” Moran said, emphasizing that the system is scalable for both air and ground platforms. Vector will be available in several configurations, including a line-of-sight version for air-to-air and air-to-ground communications, a satellite communications (SATCOM) variant, and a hybrid combining both capabilities. “This enables a multi-domain network,” Moran said. “Other terminals just talk to the satellites,” he added, but military users also require the ability to establish ground-to-ground links and integrate terrestrial and space-based networks.
The flat-panel antennas are designed to connect to multiple satellites simultaneously without the need for mechanical steering. The highly competitive satcom terminal market includes both defense and commercial players aiming to support the Pentagon’s multi-orbit communications strategy.
The software within Cubic’s satcom terminal supports 16 simultaneous beams, enabling communication with 16 different satellites across Ka-band or Ku-band frequencies and across multiple constellations and vendors, Moran explained. The digital beam-forming technology allows for concurrent transmission and reception across frequency bands without mechanical movement. “With several highly successful test flights since 2020, Cubic has been able to demonstrate a proven solution that is advancing towards our 4th-generation system — the Cubic Vector flat panel array,” he added.
It's important to note that the Halo program is distinct from AFRL’s Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) initiative, which collaborates with companies developing terminals for military users to connect to commercial broadband systems such as SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper.