Spectra Group Marks a Milestone: 7,000 SlingShot Satellite Systems Launched!

Spectra Group, a specialized provider of secure voice, data, and satellite communication systems, is commemorating the delivery of over 7000 of the acclaimed SlingShot satellite communication systems to both standard and specialized forces worldwide. This achievement coincides with their 20^th Anniversary and the DVD event, taking place on 21-22 September 2022 at Millbrook, England. Spectra Group’s SlingShot will be showcased at the Mercedes-Benz exhibit in the off-road section, mounted on a Jankel LTTV to showcase this fully integrated satellite communication capability.

Since its introduction at the Military Satellite Conference in London in November 2014, there are now over 7000 SlingShot systems either sold or leased, actively utilized by specialized or standard forces across more than 24 nations globally. The SlingShot has delivered hundreds of thousands of hours of secure satellite communication and data for modern militaries and security personnel using their own operational radios, thereby reducing cost and training requirements. Awarded the Queen’s Award for Innovation, the SlingShot system is not only compact and lightweight but is also groundbreaking, as it can be integrated with existing UHF and VHF tactical communication systems, extending their range from 30km to over 1000km. This functionality provides genuine Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) and Communications on the Move (COTM) capabilities, under all conditions from a single system.

Engineered by and tailored for specialized forces, SlingShot is ideally suited for missions where troops operate with minimal logistical assistance in remote terrains and possess limited transportation capacity. By integrating the SlingShot system with Inmarsat’s L-TAC satellite service, and connecting it to an operational radio, deployed personnel immediately acquire strategic communications that would otherwise remain inaccessible without a substantial communications framework. In addition to the reliable BLOS voice functionality, SlingShot offers ample bandwidth to transmit critical data supporting essential applications such as: situational awareness tools, GPS tracking, reporting, and various data messaging without the need for ground-based line-of-sight re-broadcasting infrastructure. Furthermore, the SlingShot omni-directional antennas equip manpack, land, sea, and air platforms with real-time Comms on the Move (COTM), eliminating the necessity for static positioning, as observed with traditional TACSAT systems.

Simon Davies, CEO of Spectra Group remarked: “We take immense pride in the SlingShot system and its effectiveness in addressing the communication challenges encountered by both specialized and regular forces deployed globally in challenging environments. Reaching 7000 units is a remarkable milestone, particularly gratifying in our 20^th anniversary year. It also exemplifies that SlingShot is confirming its status as a game-changing capability, and one of the factors contributing to its success is that it is genuinely ‘plug and play,’ transforming any operational tactical radio system into a BLOS and COTM satellite communication system with minimal training required.”