Spectra Group, a leading provider of secure communications solutions, has unveiled a new mobile communications enhancement developed in partnership with BATS Wireless and Comtech Telecommunications Corp.
The capability—Troposcatter on the Move (TOTM)—significantly upgrades the performance of Comtech’s 10-Watt Compact Over-the-Horizon Mobile Expeditionary Terminals (COMET), enabling mobile, high-bandwidth communications in challenging environments where satellite and GPS access may be denied or degraded.
As the official systems integrator, Spectra Group holds exclusive global distribution rights to Comtech’s Troposcatter Family of Systems (excluding the United States, Canada, and Mexico) and has collaborated closely with Comtech and BATS Wireless throughout 2024 to bring the TOTM concept to operational readiness. The new capability is being officially launched at SOF Week, where Spectra Group will demonstrate TOTM and its broader suite of expeditionary communications technologies at Booth #1805.
While the use of tropospheric scatter communications dates back decades, traditional systems were hindered by bulky infrastructure and high power requirements—making them impractical for mobile, modern military operations. Comtech’s COMET system changed that paradigm with a compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient solution.
The COMET system is optimized for deployed headquarters and command posts from divisional level to small tactical units. It provides a secure, long-range data backbone that is extremely difficult to detect or jam due to its low power output and narrow beamwidth. Most importantly, it operates independently of satellite infrastructure and GPS/GNSS signals, ensuring resilience in electronic warfare environments and contested domains, including polar and remote regions.
TOTM extends the COMET system’s capabilities into the mobile domain, delivering full troposcatter functionality on the move. Designed for use in dynamic and contested littoral and land environments, the system supports bandwidths of up to 210 Mbps over distances exceeding 100 kilometers—a significant leap in tactical communications flexibility.
Simon Davies, CEO of Spectra Group, said, “We pride ourselves at Spectra Group on being able to work in partnership with industry leaders to push the boundaries of what can be achieved using the latest technology to meet the demands of regular and specialist forces in the ever-evolving battlespace.
“Our trials have successfully proved the Troposcatter on the Move capability which is a significant enhancement to the existing Troposcatter COMETs utility, especially in the littoral manoeuvre space, and superbly complements the Troposcatter Family of Systems and our award-winning SlingShotTM radio and new GENSS platform which also enables BLOS and COTM for troops deployed in austere locations globally.”
Key Applications
- Ship-to-Ship and Ship-to-Shore communications
- Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) connectivity for strategic operations
- Wide Area Networks (WANs) for deployed forces
- Secure data links for ISR platforms and autonomous sensors
- Remote control of unmanned and robotic vessels
- Rapid “at the pause” land-based operations
The integration of BATS Wireless antenna systems enables rapid deployment without the need for traditional antenna setup or alignment. This allows forces to establish secure, high-bandwidth communications from mobile platforms or short-duration stops, supporting the tempo of multi-domain operations in peer conflict scenarios.
TOTM delivers a step-change in expeditionary communications capability, aligning with the needs of modern military forces operating in GPS-contested, satellite-denied, or harsh environments. Its mobility, resilience, and high data throughput make it an ideal enabler for digitally networked command structures and autonomous systems.
