Skynet 4 Stage 2 UHF Antenna

Skynet 4 Stage 2 UHF Antenna

This UHF antenna is a flight spare from a stage 2 Skynet military communications satellite. The Skynet 4D military communication satellite was launched in January 1998, with a deployable UHF antenna. Matra Marconi Space UK Ltd oversaw the build of Skynet 4D, 4E and 4F to the Skynet 4 Stage 2 standard. They were an enhanced version of the stage 1 satellites with tuneable UHF, improved UHF transponder power, and an Earth-cover helical UHF antenna.

Skynet 4 satellites are designed to sit in geostationary orbit covering the visible face of the Earth, using the UHF antenna to receive and transmit UHF (Ultra High Frequency) communications. To meet the requirements in terms of the quality of RF (radio-frequency) performance, the antenna needed to be larger than the launch envelope, which led to the UHF antenna’s deployable design.

Skynet is a family of military satellites, now operated by Astrium Services on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence, which provide strategic communication services to the three branches of the British Armed Forces and to NATO forces engaged on coalition tasks. The satellites were operated by Paradigm Secure Communications until October 2012 when the organisation was rebranded to Astrium Services.