Oxford Space Systems has completed the in-space deployment of the company’s large Very High Frequency (VHF) isoflux helical antenna on the IOD-2 mission for Startical‘s ECHOES project, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of space-based air traffic management (ATM).

The antenna, nearly 4 meters in length and designed to operate within the 117 to 138 MHz range, is a crucial component of the ECHOES initiative, contributing to enhanced global communication and surveillance capabilities for ATM purposes.

The ECHOES project, spearheaded by Startical—a joint venture between ENAIRE (the Spanish air navigation service provider) and Indra (one of the world’s leading companies in defence, air traffic, and space)—aims to prove the viability of space-based communications and surveillance capabilities for ATM services in a real scenario. This concept will revolutionize air navigation through a constellation of satellites that provide global VHF communication.

The antenna developed by Oxford Space Systems as an ECHOES project subcontractor and integrated onto the satellite enables radio connectivity in remote areas where reliable communication is essential to future air traffic management.

The ECHOES project, performed within the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) framework and compromising of Startical, ENAIRE and Indra, as well as Nav Portugal, DLR, Crida and Mitiga, has received substantial funding from the European Union, supported by the Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Transport).

This financial backing, along with the technical expertise of Oxford Space Systems, Startical, ENAIRE and Indra, ensures that the project will set new standards in air traffic management, particularly in regions where traditional systems are less effective.

Sean Sutcliffe, CEO of Oxford Space Systems, said, “We are delighted that Startical has announced the successful deployment in-space of Oxford Space Systems’ antenna for their ECHOES project. This project demonstrates the ability of Oxford Space Systems to deliver high performance, technically demanding deployable antennas within a tight timescale while conducting a rigorous design, development and verification program. In this case the program took just 12 months from first order to delivery, including designing and testing an innovative antenna to meet Startical’s requirements. This was enabled by our team’s ability to draw on extensive product knowledge and heritage, rapid execution with a strong integrated project team covering the range of skills needed, and the highly collaborative approach with the project partners—Startical, Indra and NanoAvionics.”