Phased array antennas steer space signals without moving for military satellites

Redwire is expanding its investment in phased array antennas as demand grows for faster military communications from space. The aerospace and defense technology company plans to accelerate development of adaptable antenna systems for satellites across multiple orbits. The systems could support U.S. military networks that need stronger connections and lower communication delays. Redwire has already supplied antennas for the Pentagon’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, or PWSA. In 2023, those antennas helped enable the first U.S. military Link-16 communications from space. The new investment pushes deeper into a technology that could shape how future satellite constellations handle data. Antennas that steer electronically Traditional antennas often require physical movement to point signals toward a target. Phased array antennas take a different approach. They use many small antenna elements and electronically direct a beam without moving the entire structure. That allows systems to respond faster and maintain connections with changing targets. Redwire wants to apply that capability across low Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit, and geostationary orbit. Future satellite networks will likely rely on large groups of spacecraft instead of a handful of major satellites. Those distributed networks need antennas that can rapidly switch connections and manage heavy data traffic. Mike Sharkey, senior vice president at Redwire Defense Tech’s RF Systems group, said phased arrays will play a central role in that transition. “Space data networks are evolving at an unprecedented pace,” Sharkey said. “Phased arrays are a foundational technology enabling that transformation.” Redwire expects its expanded investment to produce communications hardware with greater flexibility and stronger link performance. Supporting proliferated constellations The Pentagon has increasingly focused on proliferated satellite architectures, especially for military communications and data transport. Instead of concentrating critical capabilities in a few large spacecraft, such networks spread them across many satellites. That approach could make the overall system harder to disrupt. Reliable connections become especially important in that environment. Satellites must communicate across rapidly changing orbital positions and potentially contested regions. Redwire says its phased array technology will support dynamic beam steering and higher data throughput. The systems will also target improved connection reliability. Those capabilities could help military users maintain communications across increasingly complex satellite networks. The investment also extends beyond defense missions. Redwire sees applications in civil and commercial space operations as demand rises for high-capacity satellite communications. More production behind technology Redwire enters the expansion with an established portfolio of radio-frequency hardware. Its RF Systems group operates from Longmont, Colorado, where it supplies tactical communications and sensing payloads to major aerospace and defense contractors. The company says it has delivered more than 200 flight antennas. Its portfolio also includes complex RF payloads, including systems now under production for a European defense contractor. A recent capital upgrade at Redwire’s RF flight electronics assembly facilities will support the broader technology push. The investment reflects a larger shift in satellite communications. Future networks will need to move more data and adapt quickly when conditions change.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Aamir is a seasoned tech journalist with experience at Exhibit Magazine, Republic World, and PR Newswire. With a deep love for all things tech and science, he has spent years decoding the latest innovations and exploring how they shape industries, lifestyles, and the future of humanity.