Whitepaper

3 – Satellite Capability

The SlingShot satellite service utilises an assured and uncontested channel through the provision of a 25kHz leased channel operating in the L-band frequencies.  L-band, originally used globally for the Safety of Souls at Sea and now in operation for land, sea and air applications, is a high-availability proven solution. L-band is not affected by the normal environmental factors such as clouds, fog, rain, storm and vegetation enabling connectivity in all weather conditions, day or night. With L-band the user communicates with as many outstations as required with a simple push to talk radio net.

4 – Connectivity

SlingShot can be directly connected to a radio, requiring the radio to provide Frequency Modulation (FM) waveform and a 25kHz channel. This covers the majority of professional commercial and military radios. Multiple radio systems can be connected to the same network using SlingShot in this way, delivering crucial interoperability between Emergency organisations.

5 – Applicability

SlingShot provides systems on the person, in vehicles, in fixed-wing and rotary aircraft and on maritime platforms. Because SlingShot uses omni-directional antennas, there is no requirement to point the antenna to acquire the satellite, which ensures uninterrupted Communications On The Move (COTM). SlingShot can connect to a number of radios within the VHF military, VHF commercial and UHF military frequency ranges.

6 – Data

SlingShot supports data and enables the passage of information across all levels of command, as required. The data capability supports critical applications such as situational awareness, tracking, trace, reporting and biometric analysis.

7 – Simplicity

SlingShot is a simple to use capability that does not require any terrestrial networks and can support inter-agency communications across a number of different radio systems. It provides BLOS communications supporting Governments (at all levels) and the organisations required to support the ongoing contingency operations dispersed over substantial geographical distances.

Summary

The benefits of using SlingShot in these circumstances are: SlingShot does not require any terrestrial infrastructure that becomes stressed during major events; The system is extremely easy to deploy; it provides systems to support the person, on rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, vehicles and maritime platforms; the service is simply installed and enables inter-agency interoperability by connecting to the current service radio antenna connection; SlingShot can pass the users’ crypto and therefore can allow the current security of the user to be maintained; tested to demanding military standards ensuring robust and reliable equipment; training is minimal due to the system being designed as simplistically as possible to allow individuals to maintain their focus on their current task; the satellite channel is resilient, it provides an uncontested channel allocation enabling Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) commercial satellite bandwidth and communications.