A new satellite antenna from US-based Kymeta can connect to Ku- and Ka-band networks at the same time, highlighting a technical first that could reshape how military platforms stay connected in the field.
Until now, operating across two bands typically requires separate antennas, adding weight, power needs, and complexity. Kymeta’s new design brings it all together in one device.
This allows the antenna to maintain four beams simultaneously, improving speed, bandwidth, and coverage without switching hardware.
For defense users and autonomous systems that rely on constant data links, that kind of flexibility is essential, especially in remote or high-risk areas.
The development could also make it easier to roam between different satellite networks, much like how phones move between cellular towers, laying the groundwork for more resilient and seamless global communications.
Built for Modern Battlespace
Kymeta’s dual-band antenna is designed to meet growing military demands for reliable satellite connectivity that can support edge computing, autonomous systems, and AI-powered operations.
As warfare grows more data-driven and autonomous, communications systems need to be faster, smarter, and more resilient.
The US Space Force has already called for “a network of networks” that can operate across multiple bands, orbits, and waveforms to enable more agile and responsive missions.
“Kymeta’s breakthrough in seamless switching between Ku and Ka satellite bands delivers the kind of resilient, always-on communications that advanced military platforms and autonomous systems demand,” said retired US Army General Paul J. Kern.
“This capability would have made an enormous difference to my operations in the desert of Iraq.”
Following a successful demonstration, the system is now being positioned as a way to maintain communications in the face of jamming, disruptions, or limited bandwidth during operations.
