The DoD demand for beyond line of site capacity, driven by a more connected tactical environment and explosion in ISR, has continued to grow substantially over the past several decades. While improvements in MILSATCOM and in particular High Capacity COMSATCOM have helped the warfighter’s mission there is still substantial unmet need as there are limits to what is achievable with Radio Frequency (RF) communications.

Free space optical, or laser communications, has been rapidly maturing since the early 2000’s and has become a proven beyond line of site technology capable of delivering more than 1 Gbps links to very small terminals. Laser communications can now provide a mechanism for near real time delivery of imagery and radar data from observation satellites, instantaneous access to uncompressed ISR sensor data or as a massive backhaul link for airborne, maritime or ground deployed forces. By its nature, laser communications offers Low Probability of Intercept / Low Probability of Detection (LIP/LPD) and anti-jam characteristics.

Laser communications provides a new means for high data rate, protected connectivity for the DoD. Not only does it help solve the relevant mission issues that persist today, but it opens up new possibilities and concepts of operation for the future.