Boeing finalized a firm-fixed-price contract with Al Yah Satellite Company (Yahsat), the United Arab Emirates-based multipurpose satellite operator, to design and build active electronically steered phased array antenna systems for aircraft. The value of the contract is not being disclosed.

The small, state-of-the-art Ka-band phased-array SATCOM antenna system will for a "significant increase in bandwidth offered by next-generation Ka-band satellites" to transport data from aircraft in flight to the ground network, and vice versa, according to Boeing. Boeing's latest Ka-band phased array system uses electronically controlled beams to transmit and receive signals from Ka-band satellites in a single, small, aerodynamic design. The antennas are being designed in Kent, Wash., and will be produced at the Boeing Strategic Manufacturing Center in El Paso, Texas.

“Boeing's unique phased array antenna system enables greater bandwidth capabilities for network communications while in flight. We're both proud and excited to produce these next-generation antenna systems, and we remain focused on completing the development and delivery of these systems for Yahsat,” said Terry Collins, Vice President and General Manager, Boeing Electronic & Mission Systems.

“This agreement with Boeing is further evidence of Yahsat's commitment to forming strategic partnerships with the industry's leading organizations, allowing us to provide turnkey solutions for secure, reliable, cost-effective satellite communications solutions,” said YahService General Manager Rashed Al Ghafri.

“Boeing's Ka-band phased-array SATCOM antenna system is the perfect partner for our Ka-band enabled satellites, which means that we will now be able to service our customers with state-of-the-art antennas for installation on aircraft platforms,” Al Ghafri added.