Iridium SATCOM for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Always-on connectivity, even beyond the horizon
Iridium® satellite communication (SATCOM) is helping to make beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) UAV flight possible and successful.
Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are often used for missions requiring flight to areas too dangerous or not ideal for crewed aircraft.
Monitoring remote industrial projects such as pipelines, railways, power lines, and others can often benefit from the power of UAVs. Also, organizations supporting disaster recovery relief can use UAVs to deliver medical supplies in hard-to-reach areas without a nearby runway or helicopter landing zone.
How UAVs Are Used Today
From military operations to humanitarian aid, UAVs are helping organizations successfully complete missions, projects and initiatives around the world.
When a UAV goes beyond visual line of sight of the pilot, satellite communication can play a critical role in maintaining operational control of the aircraft.
UAV pilots must be able to make critical, split-second Command-and-Control (C2) decisions mid-flight–such as rerouting a mission due to unexpected weather patterns and maintaining safe separation from other aircraft. They also need access to a constant flow of critical data, including but not limited to navigational, weather and aircraft health information.
Most importantly, these pilots need to know that no matter where they are required to fly their aircraft, they will have access to fast, reliable connectivity - and Iridium Connected technologies are uniquely qualified to support these needs.
Our UAV Market Advantages
Global Line of Sight®
We operate the only truly global satellite network. Our crosslinked constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites creates a web of coverage around the entire planet, including locations that lack connectivity, like the Arctic.
This is ideal for UAVs because no matter where they fly, a pilot can control and observe the aircraft regardless of how distance. With Iridium, BVLOS C2 is a specialty.
Our network’s location in LEO supports low-latency connectivity that makes real-time data delivery possible, an essential capability for these aircraft.
Highly Reliable SATCOM
We deliver connectivity over weather resilient L-band satellite spectrum, making it ideal for delivering critical communications solutions, such as connectivity for UAVs.
For remote pilots, safety is the top priority. If a sudden storm passes through and a pilot needs to change flight plans– such as taking the aircraft BVLOS to avoid dangerous conditions– Iridium technology is a must-have.
Accessible & Flexible
We have a vast partner network of over 500 companies around the world, making our technology available and easy to implement.
Our technology is perfect as a primary communications system on board a UAV, as well as a backup to traditional line-of-sight or cellular technologies for BVLOS and C2 needs.
How We Enable UAVs Today
Critical Medical Aid
Our partner Kite Aero integrated Iridium technology into its drones’ C2 systems to deliver critical medical supplies on the island nation of Vanuatu, where access to life-saving treatments is limited due to its lack of infrastructure and remote location.
Remote Surveillance
The American Aerospace AiRanger uses the small, lightweight, and low-powered SkyLink by Blue Sky Network for versatility in uncrewed airborne applications. Iridium Certus gives the drone C2 capabilities for BVLOS and Over-the-Horizon (OTH) connectivity for aerial surveillance.
SkyLink’s C2 and BVLOS capabilities combined with AiRanger’s unique design and embedded technology are helping to scale UAS operations in the NAS.