ST Engineering iDirect Evolution® Defense

Herndon, Va., November 8, 2020-- ST Engineering iDirect’s broadband capabilities provide secure connectivity for all voice, video and data communications and specialized applications for assured access in even the most challenging environments. 

Today’s military and defense organizations face the challenge of extending high-speed broadband access from strategic command centers to the front line, while maintaining the highest possible level of security to protect communications and deployed units. The more data a military can share real time between headquarters, mobile units and individual soldiers, the better equipped it is to make more accurate, informed decisions when lives are on the line. 

Maintaining connectivity in a military enviroment requires a network that can be rapidly set up and scaled without distance or terrain restrictions, and managed from a centralized location. From a state-of-the-art mobile operations center, commanders can utilize advanced IP Satellite networks to monitor troop locations, gather intelligence, communicate tactical plans and advantageously allocate resources in the field. 

The ST Engineering iDirect Satellite Solution 

ST Engineering iDirect‘s defense product line and ready-to-access functionality delivers a reliable, efficient and highly secure solution for any application, in any environment, fixed and mobile, across land, sea and air.  The ST Engineering iDirect platform is a single, unified,  IP-based satellite communications architecture that enables seamless integration with existing infrastructure and allows for interoperability and communication with all IP-based devices and friendly forces’ networks.

The Evolution® Defense product line consists of a flexible, universal hub and line card system that can support Ku-, C-, Ka- and X-bands, as well as multiple topologies and applications, and can connect to up to five satellites. Our satellite modems are engineered with versatile functionality and varying form factors to meet unique military application needs and industry-specific industrialized and security requirements. And fully integrated operating and management software allows military and defense organizations  to centrally monitor, configure and control the entire satellite network. 

Mission Critical Reliability and Efficiency 

ST Engineering iDirect’s Evolution Defense platform is designed for large outbound channels and produces major gains in data throughput. It’s combined with Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM), which enables each satellite remote to maximize efficiency and availability by continually evaluating signal strength based on local weather and spectrum conditions to preserve throughput.

Network Architecture

In addition, ST Engineering iDirect’s modular hub architecture offers multi-channel demodulation line cards, which can be software activated to support up to sixteen return channels.  
This reduces hardware costs and maximizes chassis space, both of which are important to militaries with tight operating budgets and the need for flexible communications solutions.

As militaries share mission critical information, it’s imperative that any site on a network has sufficient bandwidth at every moment. Our platform is a shared, two-way Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) system built to dynamically allocate bandwidth from a shared pool based on real-time usage requirements. 

To guarantee military organizations assured access to critical information, our Group Quality of Service (GQoS) technology prioritizes bandwidth efficiently across different needs, ranging from welfare services to intelligence data to real-time tactical updates in the field, all over one network. 

Military-Grade Security

Network security is always a top priority for military operations, requiring the content, location, type and amount of information sent to be highly protected.  

The Evolution Defense platform is compliant with the highest security standards such as TRANSEC and FIPS and can operate at multiple security levels from welfare to intelligence information exchange. 

Using FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified encryption, 256-bit keyed AES encryption and built in security features, ST Engineering iDirect ensures that the content and size of all user and network link layer traffic is completely undetectable to adversaries.

ST Engineering iDirect ensures that the content and size of all user and network link layer traffic is completely undetectable to adversaries.

To read or download a pdf of a report on Military Satellite Market sponsored by ST Engineering iDirect  click here.

Mobility Applications

Militaries operate in multiple and diverse locations for indefinite periods of time. As units move between deployments, their communications networks must follow them. Vehicles must be fully broadband-enabled in order to provide effective communications between central command and deployed units. On an individual level, soldiers who stay connected while on the move behind enemy lines have access to updated threat analysis, receive critical command data and troop updates, and benefit from telemedicine applications that can help save lives.

ST Engineering iDirect’s defense product line can extend a broadband platform to vehicles, aircraft or maritime vessels. Their platform utilizes a spread spectrum waveform technology that enables the use of small antennas necessary for COTM applications, and reduces the risk of interference to adjacent satellites by spreading out bandwidth and power. 

Network Management

To ensure that militaries can easily configure and manage all of their fixed and mobile network deployments, ST Engineering iDirect’s iVantage (NMS) allows  centralized control from a single location and makes it easy for non-technical personnel to quickly deploy new sites in the field. 

As mobile remotes move between networks on various transponders and satellites, ST Engineering iDirect’s Global NMS enables military organizations to monitor the health and location of all their deployed remotes, identify and fix performance degradation, and troubleshoot any situation that may arise.

ST Engineering iDirect’s product portfolio combines innovative technology and solutions to support  all your networking requirements for bandwidth, location, satellite frequency, topology or application, in any environment, fixed and mobile.