Army asks industry for Ka-band tactical terminal for next-gen battlefield satellite communications (SATCOM)

Summary points:

• Army Seeks TRL-6 Ka-Band Antenna Terminal: The Army is looking for a production-ready Ka-band multi-beam lens array antenna terminal for the Next Generation Tactical Terminal (NGTT) project.
• Antenna must support LEO, MEO, and GEO satellite constellations with strict gain-to-noise and power performance at all scan angles.
• Interested companies must submit 10-page capability statements by this week to be considered for future procurement.

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – U.S. Army tactical communications experts are surveying industry for companies able to provide a production-ready, technology readiness level (TRL), 6 Ka-band multi-beam lens array antenna terminal that has been tested and demonstrated in a high-fidelity laboratory or in a simulated environment.

Officials of the Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., issued a request for information (RFI-NGT-061625-JJY) last week for the Next Generation Tactical Terminal (NGTT) project. TRL-6 indicates that the system has been tested in a realistic environment.

The Army is trying to find companies able to provide a production-ready, technology readiness level (TRL) 6 Ka-band multi-beam lens array antenna tactical terminal for next-generation battlefield satellite communications (SATCOM). The terminal must already be tested and demonstrated in a high-fidelity laboratory or in a simulated environment.

For its first beam, the antenna terminal must offer an equivalent isotropic radiated power of more than 40 decibels per kelvin at all scan angles, and for the second beam must offer more than 40 decibels per kelvin at all scan angles. The antenna gain-to-noise-temperature should be more than 6.4 decibels per kelvin at all scan angles.

Assessing industry capabilities

This device is to be for the Next Generation Tactical Terminal (NGTT) program, and seeks to assess today's industry capabilities. The Army is particularly interested in solutions that support low Earth orbit, medium earth orbit, and geostationary earth orbit satellite constellations.

Recent market research indicates that lens array architectures today offer an advantage over phased array and metamaterial array approaches for performance, size, and weight of a ground tactical Ka-band multi-beam terminal that operates over the required satellite constellations.

Companies interested should email 10-page capability statements no later than 24 June 2025 to Contracting Officer Thomas Lynn Jr. at [email protected] and Contract Specialist John Ye at [email protected].

Email questions or concerns to Thomas Lynn Jr. at [email protected] and John Ye at [email protected]. More information is online at https://sam.gov/opp/1001f8a94060450babdaf589c403f4a6/view.