On 1 December 2022, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) completed a fully-networked demonstration using multiple Laser Communication terminals. The network included ground, mobile and airborne terminals. During the demonstration, a live video and audio feed of operators at each terminal was shared in the networked communication display. The demonstration took place at Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic in Charleston, South Carolina, on 3 November 2022, to highlight multi-point networking communications using laser-based communication (Lasercomm). During the demonstration, the operators maintained lasercomm links at rates of 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) and exchanged high-quality video and voice data. The demonstration was intended to show how lasercomm could be used in an operational theatre to provide LPI/LPD comms for the warfighter.
The company stated that Lasercomm is in demand for military applications because of its Low Probability of Intercept/Low Probability of Detection (LPI/LPD) and anti-jamming characteristics, as well as its ability to support much higher data rates than traditional Radio Frequency (RF) systems. GA-ASI added that Lasercomm would enable their Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to conduct secure communications with airborne, maritime, and ground users, as well as with future satellites, and could be applied as a podded or integrated solution.
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