The ESA underwent DO-160 airborne equipment qualification in March, moving directly from its original design to production, highlighting its maturity, quality, and reliable heritage. Following the completion of flight testing in June, the Sidewinder terminal earned its first supplemental type certification (STC) from the Federal Aviation Administration. This certification enables airlines to integrate the system onto regional jets, with further global performance validation and testing planned for a second aircraft, including operations in polar regions.
With these milestones achieved, BAE Systems and Stellar Blu have scaled up production and started shipments to fulfill over 1,000 existing orders, including several hundred installations scheduled for the next year. Concurrently, they are collaborating on the next generation of terminal designs optimized for Ku and Ka low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
"The need for quality in-flight connectivity is growing every day, as displayed by our already considerable number of orders," said Paula Burns, vice president and general manager of Tactical Solutions for BAE Systems Space and Mission Systems. "This is a major milestone for both BAE Systems and Stellar Blu, and it will serve as a building block as we continue to advance these capabilities for our commercial and military customers."
BAE Systems provides the transmit antenna, receive antenna, and antenna control software, which Stellar Blu integrates into its Sidewinder terminal. The complete aero terminal includes all necessary external and cabin components to support internet service providers offering multi-orbit connectivity. Integrator kits are also available for government applications. Stellar Blu managed the qualification and STC process for the terminal.
"Our collaboration is foundational to our success, which is reflected in our backlog and the overwhelming interest in every aero market," said Tracy Trent, CEO of Stellar Blu Solutions. "We continue to invest in the adaption of Sidewinder with airframe original equipment manufacturers and the development of new products, utilizing proven BAE Systems technology to bring a range of solutions to our customers."
BAE Systems' antennas, which support multi-orbit satellite communications, have been extensively flight-tested on LEO and geostationary orbit satellite networks. The low-profile antenna met all qualification requirements without the need for an external radome, reducing both cost and installation complexity while enhancing radio frequency performance.
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