Orbit’s Audio Management System will integrate with Heron TP’s airborne satcom terminals and ground tracking systems.

IAI Heron TP (Picture source: John Richard Thomson)

Orbit Communications Systems Ltd. (TASE: ORBI), a leading global provider of airborne communications solutions, announced at the Israel Defense & HLS Expo (ISDEF 2019) that Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a world-leading aerospace company, placed a $US1.8 million order for Orbit’s Orion™ airborne audio management systems for integration aboard its next-generation medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) Heron TP unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Delivery of the systems is expected in 2019 and 2020. Orbit’s Orion enables essential communications between the UAV and civil Air Traffic Control (ATC) and other ground stations.

“All large UAVs are required to communicate directly with civil airports via Air Traffic Control using their own onboard systems,” explained Aharon Huberman, Senior Program Manager in the MALAT division of IAI. “Orbit’s Orion is the most mature solution on the market, in terms of its capabilities, reliability and regulatory compliance.”

“We believe that our ability to adapt the system and deliver it under an extremely tight schedule were key considerations in MALAT’s decision to select our audio management solution,” commented Ben Weinberger, CEO of Orbit. “We are proud to provide readily integrated radio gateway solutions to help simplify IAI’s development and operation on a system level,” he added.