Spectra Group in partnership with Inmarsat is enabling strategic communications for the UK peacekeeping mission in Mali (Op Newcombe) with its SlingShot SATCOM system.
This announcement coincides with Eurosatory taking place June 13 to 17 in Paris. Spectra Group’s SlingShot is on display at the AADS stand (Hall 5A Booth No F-668) fitted to a protected AADS J8 Command Vehicle to demonstrate this fully integrated, satellite communications capability.
Winner of the Queen’s Award for Innovation in 2019, the SlingShot system is low in size, weight and power (SWaP) and can be integrated with current, in-service, UHF and VHF tactical communications systems. With minimal training and investment, a user can extend radio range from 30 to 1000(+) km. and deliver true Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) and Communications on the Move (COTM) on all platforms and in all conditions with one system.
Op Newcombe is the UK contribution to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and is in support of UK Defence Priority Outcome 3 – Enhance global security through persistent engagement and response to crises.
Since October 2020, the United Kingdom has deployed a long-range, reconnaissance task group, using the Supacat Jackal 2 reconnaissance vehicle to provide detailed reconnaissance information to the UN mission, to enhance security for the Mali population and deter insurgent activity.
SlingShot was developed for, and is used by, specialist forces globally and is operationally proven in conventional scenarios. As such, it is well suited to the demands of long-range reconnaissance in Mali, where personnel are deployed in remote locations. The use of such innovative technology as SlingShot also perfectly aligns with the UK’s Defence Strategic Enabler Objective 2 – Use of Innovation, Technology and Data.
In addition to robust BLOS voice capability, SlingShot has sufficient bandwidth to carry critical data to support essential applications such as: Situational Awareness tools; GPS tracking; reporting and other data messaging without the need for a ground-based, line-of-sight, re-broadcasting architecture.
Finally, SlingShot’s omnidirectional antennas provide manpack, land, sea and air platforms with real-time COTM, rather than having to be static, as experienced with traditional TACSAT systems. These capabilities combine to provide a “battle winning” strategic enabler for UK forces deployed in support of UK Defence objectives, while also showcasing British innovation and technology to global defence markets.
Simon Davies, CEO of Spectra Group, said, “We are immensely proud that SlingShot is described by our users as a battle-winning capability, and in how successful it has been in solving the communications challenges faced by both specialist and regular forces. It is truly plug and play, converting any in-service tactical radio system into a BLOS and COTM satellite communications system, with minimal training, so that users can fully focus on the task in hand.”
