GILAT: Communications in the middle of nowhere !

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GILAT* has been in business since 1987—nearly 40 years—with expertise rooted in satellite communications.

From the outset, GILAT was a commercial enterprise, though it occasionally sold products to the Israeli defense sector. However, three years ago, recognizing that governments and their Ministries of Defence worldwide were seeking more agile commercial technology—particularly in SatCom, as military technologies were becoming obsolete—GILAT decided to pivot toward the defense sector.

GILAT is a global company with a workforce of over 1,000 people, operating across every continent with 14 offices and 6 R&D centers worldwide.

GILAT’s Products

In terms of products, GILAT has long manufactured antennas, high-power amplifiers, and terminals, installing them on vehicles, aircraft, ships, and more. If you need to establish connectivity in a location where none exists—in the middle of nowhere, essentially—laying fiber-optic cable is both costly and time-consuming.

Alternatively, you can use a GILAT modem and a small antenna to establish cellular connectivity via satellite in under an hour.

Today, over 600 commercial aircraft utilize GILAT technology. This same technology is applied in the defense sector. For instance, an infantry squad in a remote location—equipped with a terminal, a modem, and an antenna—can secure connectivity offering speeds of tens of megabits within minutes. This enables them to transmit video, images, information, and data, as well as request air support or handle other critical tasks.

Viper Ka Antenna Unveiled at Eurosatory 2026

Gilat Defense showcased the new Viper Ka Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) from RaySat. RaySat, a GILAT subsidiary, offers this cutting-edge product to ensure secure, low-latency communications while featuring reduced Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) requirements and minimal aerodynamic impact—key advantages for mission-critical operations involving unmanned systems.

The Viper Ka antenna supports multi-orbit operations (LEO, MEO, and GEO constellations) and dynamically selects the optimal orbit based on mission requirements. This capability enables seamless adaptation to ever-changing operational environments. The antenna is designed to operate with current and future Ka-band constellations, including emerging military and defense networks. To leverage this technological advancement, GILAT has developed multi-orbit terminals capable of operating across multiple orbits.

viper ka 1

GILAT aims to differentiate itself from other players in the defense market by offering the flexibility to operate anywhere—across any application, orbit, or waveform—a concept they call the "Multi-Verse".

The Multi-Verse

The Multi-Verse represents Gilat’s capability to connect across:

  • Multi-orbits: Geostationary (GEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

  • Multi-bands (satellite frequencies): Ka, Ku, Q-band, X-band, and V-band.

  • Multi-waveforms: SCPC (single signal at a specific frequency and bandwidth), FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access), 5G-NTN, DVB-S2X, and military networks.

  • Multi-applications. The concept is to give the end-user the ability to choose exactly what they need: they have the equipment, so they have the solution.

Applications

Gilat Aero solutions are based on robust technologies that are field-proven and validated in real-world operations:

  • Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR).

  • Continuous monitoring of an area, target, border, battlefield, or moving object over extended periods without interruption.

  • Border protection and homeland security: airborne platforms equipped with SATCOM systems facilitate real-time situational awareness, surveillance, and rapid response.

  • In-flight connectivity.

  • Rapid deployment and emergency response.

  • Maritime patrol aviation.

  • Tailored defense applications: Gilat addresses specific needs by offering solutions such as tri-band terminals, sovereign hub infrastructure, and customized system integrations adapted to unique operational requirements.

Supported aerial platforms

Gilat Aero solutions support a wide range of manned and unmanned aerial platforms:

  • Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).

  • Rotary-wing aircraft.

  • Aerostats and tethered platforms.

*https://www.gilat.com/industries/defense

Photos credits : Gilat, RaySat