Honeywell Aerospace is advancing satellite communications with its upcoming JetWave X Satellite Communication (SATCOM) system, developed to deliver secure, high-speed, and reliable connectivity for military and government operators across multiple networks and orbital regimes. Read more >>
Scheduled for introduction in the second half of 2025, JetWave X supports large Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, special mission fleets, business jets, and transport platforms.
Tom Konicki, Honeywell Director of Business Development, commented, “Accessing the best available connection, regardless of orbit or service, will give operators the resilience and flexibility to succeed, even under contested or degraded conditions. As multi-network, multi-orbit capabilities evolve, operators will experience always-available connectivity across all domains.”
Enhancing U.S. Army ISR
The JetWave X system has been selected by L3Harris to modernize the U.S. Army’s Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare System (ARES). The integration will enable the Army to transmit mission-critical information at higher data rates while maintaining constant connectivity through JetWave X’s resilient, multi-network architecture.
ARES, a Bombardier Global 6000/6500-class demonstrator aircraft, is operated by L3Harris and serves as a testbed for future airborne ISR technologies. The addition of JetWave X will allow the Army to evaluate advanced connectivity performance in operational scenarios requiring consistent, high-bandwidth communication.
Multi-Orbit Architecture
The defense community established multi-orbit and multi-network connectivity to ensure uninterrupted communications under contested or degraded conditions. With new constellations across low, medium, and geostationary Earth orbits, this approach is now enabling greater resilience and flexibility.
JetWave X is thought to be the first SATCOM system capable of connecting, from initial deployment, with Ka-band satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO), highly elliptical orbit (HEO), and geostationary Earth orbit (GEO). Supported commercial networks include Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) and the Viasat-3 constellation.
Initially, operators will use JetWave X to access government-operated networks through civilian Ka-band frequencies. Honeywell plans to expand the system to include dedicated military and government Ka-band frequencies by 2026.
Preparing for LEO Networks
As low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations become available, Honeywell intends to integrate Electronically Scanned Antennas (ESAs) into JetWave X to connect with LEO satellites, reducing latency and enhancing resilience in signal-challenged environments.
Konicki continued, “JetWave X is the perfect solution in cases where satellite signals are jammed, spoofed, or degraded for whatever reason, because it can jump from one network to another to find a valid signal. For example, with JetWave X, an aircraft can fly from Point A to Point B and back again, using the PACE approach to switch from ‘primary’ to ‘alternate,’ ‘contingency,’ and ‘emergency’ satellite networks multiple times, without ever losing connectivity.”
Continuous High-Speed Data
JetWave X uses advanced routing and data control software to manage transitions between satellites in different orbits automatically, ensuring uninterrupted communication without operator input.
The system delivers download speeds of up to 200 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 20 Mbps, offering approximately ten times the data throughput of many in-service SATCOM solutions. With its multi-orbit design, adaptive networking, and future ESA integration, JetWave X provides a foundation for resilient, high-capacity airborne communications supporting evolving defense and government missions.
