Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced the release of SpectralNet™ by its RT Logic subsidiary. SpectralNet brings analog RF data to the IP network world by unleashing the power of virtualization and centralization of ground architectures for satellite and range ground systems, teleports, UAV and missile ranges, and ISR data processing. It eliminates the physical distance limitations in RF signal distribution, enabling the optimization of ground infrastructure to improve flexibility, reliability and reduce costs.
This is the only commercially available product of its kind that eliminates the distance constraints of RF transport by digitizing RF signals for transport over IP networks in a way that preserves both frequency and timing characteristics then uniquely restores the RF signals at their destination. Eliminating the distance constraints between antennas and signal processing equipment, this technology enables operators to deploy new ground architectures with numerous advantages, such as the ability to mitigate the effects of rain fade for Ku/Ka satellites, reduce costs by centralizing operations, simplify disaster recovery and system maintenance, optimize antenna placement and develop a migration path toward virtual ground systems. SpectralNet does all of this while protecting the operator's current investment in existing equipment.
The global migration to IP and virtualized solutions has reshaped many industries over the past decade, enabling the distribution of many types of content via IP networks. Satellite ground systems have not been able to take full advantage of this trend given the constraints on RF signal distribution. With SpectralNet, the lossless transport of packetized RF over IP networks - public or private - is now possible, over any distance, even in the presence of real world IP network limitations.
