HARDWARE / PRODUCTUpdated 24 Jul 2026

SWIFT® Radios and RAVEN – SDR

Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (AMERGINT)
SWIFT® Radios and RAVEN – SDR

The SWIFT® family of Software Defined Radios (SDR) provides high-performance communications for small satellite operations, built on a modular platform with diverse software control of RF parameters. The RAVEN SDR is a next-generation, highly configurable SDR with low sWaP-C, local application suppo

Typed specifications64 values

Discloses 6 of 13 fields engineers filter by in this category (category median 5).

Mass
400 g
max · datasheet p.2
Link protocols and waveforms
Convolutional Coding, Reed Solomon, LDPC, BCH (Forward Error Correction)
datasheet p.2 CCSDS CCSDS TM/TC/AOS/Security Packet  |  proprietary Gryphon Framing  |  CCSDS TM/TC/AOS/Security Packet, Gryphon Framing, NTIA/SFCG Mask Compliant, PN Ranging (one-way, two-way)  |  proprietary
Frequency range
1700-2300
datasheet p.2 1 700 MHz min  |  2 300 MHz max  |  1 700–2 300 MHz
Envelope (L×W×H)
(L) 98 x (W) 94 x (H) 42 mm
datasheet p.2 (L) 98 x (W) 94 x (H) 42 with connectors and mounting feet
TX RF output power
2 W
nom. · datasheet p.2 2 W  |  2 W finely adjustable
Data rate
5 000 kbps
Rx · datasheet p.2 25 000 kbps Tx  |  5 000 kbps max · Rx peak throughput  |  25 000 kbps max · Tx peak throughput
Modulation
BPSK, AMFSK, SGLS, USB (Rx)
datasheet p.2 other AMFSK (Rx), SGLS, USB (Rx and Tx)  |  BPSK Rx and Tx  |  QPSK Tx  |  BPSK, QPSK, OQPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, SGLS, USB (Tx)  +12
Supply voltage
9 V
min · datasheet p.2 34.6 V max  |  9–34.6 V
Power consumption
16 W
max · Operating Power · datasheet p.2 4 W max · Standby Power
Data interface
LVDS
for Data Transfer · datasheet p.2 RS-422 for TT&C (Prime and Redundant ports)
Operating temperature
-30–60 °C
datasheet p.2
Radiation tolerance (TID)
40 krad
datasheet p.2
Function
SDR transceiver
datasheet p.1
Frequency band
S
datasheet p.1 L
Instantaneous bandwidth
9 900 kHz
Rx bandwidth · datasheet p.2 10 000 kHz Tx bandwidth
RF connector
SMA
1 Rx port · datasheet p.2 SMA 1 Tx port
Connector
SMA
1 Rx port · datasheet p.2 SMA 1 Tx port
Random vibration
22.6 g RMS
datasheet p.2
Flight heritage
Flight Heritage, Proven communications on several missions, Units currently on-orbit supporting LEO & GEO missions
datasheet p.1
Satellite class
GEO
units currently on-orbit supporting LEO & GEO missions · datasheet p.1
Max RX input level
-50 dBm
operating dynamic range -120 to -50 dBm (upper end) · datasheet p.2
Channel coding (FEC)
convolutional (Viterbi)
datasheet p.2 Reed-Solomon  |  LDPC  |  BCH
Encryption
optional / customer module
compatible with KI-55, KI-103, Iron Fortress (KI-18 x 2) · datasheet p.2 AES-256 optional add-on, up & down

Each value is typed with its unit and measurement condition and cites the datasheet page it was taken from. Nothing is guessed: a field that is absent here has not been published by the manufacturer. machine-extracted ✓ checked by NewSpace Market ✓ manufacturer confirmed by the manufacturer.

As published by the supplier13 lines, in the manufacturer's own wording
Flight heritage
Yes
Networks (SWIFT-XTS)
NEN/DSN: CCSDS TC/TM, Raw bit-sync; USN: SLGS, CCSDS; AFSCN: SGLS, USB; RBC, Atlas, SFN; Custom/commercial/private; Crypto units such as the KI-55 and GNOME
Networks (RAVEN - SDR)
USN: SLGS, CCSDS; AFSCN: SGLS, USB; RBC, Atlas, SFN; Custom/commercial/private; Crypto units such as the KI-55 and GNOME
Electrical interfaces (SWIFT-XTS)
RS-232/422/485; LVDS; 3.3v CMOS/TTL; CAN/SPI/I2C; Ethernet 10/100; MIL-STD-1553
Electrical interfaces (RAVEN - SDR)
LVDS; 3.3v CMOS/TTL; CAN/SPI/I2C; Ethernet 10/100; MIL-STD-1553
Modulations (SWIFT-XTS)
TX: BPSK, QPSK, OQPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK; RX: BPSK, QPSK, OQPSK; PM, CPM; SGLS-Ternary
Modulations (RAVEN - SDR)
RX: BPSK, QPSK, OQPSK; PM, CPM; SGLS-Ternary
Fec (SWIFT-XTS)
Reed-Solomon w/ interleaving; Convolutional w/ puncturing; Soft-Viterbi; BCH; Turbo/LDPC; CRC
Fec (RAVEN - SDR)
Convolutional w/ puncturing; Soft-Viterbi; BCH; Turbo/LDPC; CRC
Protocols (SWIFT-XTS)
Sync. Clock+Data (200 Mbps); Dual SpaceWire (100 Mbps); Dual UART (10 Mbps); HDLC Framing; GPIO for Rx IRQ/Tx Enable
Protocols (RAVEN - SDR)
Dual SpaceWire (100 Mbps); Dual UART (10 Mbps); HDLC Framing; GPIO for Rx IRQ/Tx Enable
Support (SWIFT-XTS)
Idle/pilot insertion; Randomization; Bit-diff., Bi-Phase; NRZ-L/M/S; Coherent tone ranging; PN Ranging
Support (RAVEN - SDR)
Randomization; Bit-diff., Bi-Phase; NRZ-L/M/S; Coherent tone ranging; PN Ranging

About

The SWIFT® Radios are a family of Software Defined Radios (SDR) built on a modular platform, offering diverse software control over RF parameters. They are specifically designed to provide high-performance communications for small satellite operations and have flight heritage. These SDRs are compatible with Type-1 encryption modules like the KI-55 and GNOME, and natively support AES-256 encryption. They have successfully passed exhaustive compatibility testing with multiple ground stations and can provide compatibility with a wide spectrum of existing networks, interfaces, and protocols. SWIFT Radios also support IP-protocol mesh-network inter-satellite link communications via the SWIFT-LINQ software module.

The RAVEN – SDR represents the next generation of Tethers Unlimited Inc. Software Defined Radios. It is designed to readily accept third-party applications with incredible throughput, speed, and flexibility. With a wide array of electrical interfaces and AES encryption, RAVEN offers high resiliency combined with high bandwidth on an adaptive platform for customization. Key features of RAVEN include low sWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost), local application support, SWIFT-LINQ customization, and additional AES256 Quantum Secure Zero Trust Blockchain capabilities. Both SWIFT and RAVEN SDRs support a range of networks including NEN/DSN (CCSDS TC/TM, Raw bit-sync), USN (SLGS, CCSDS), AFSCN (SGLS, USB), RBC, Atlas, SFN, and custom/commercial/private networks, as well as crypto units like KI-55 and GNOME. They feature electrical interfaces such as RS-232/422/485, LVDS, 3.3v CMOS/TTL, CAN/SPI/I2C, Ethernet 10/100, and MIL-STD-1553. Supported modulations include TX: BPSK, QPSK, OQPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK; RX: BPSK, QPSK, OQPSK; PM, CPM; and SGLS-Ternary. FEC capabilities include Reed-Solomon with interleaving, Convolutional with puncturing, Soft-Viterbi, BCH, Turbo/LDPC, and CRC. Protocols supported are Sync. Clock+Data (200 Mbps), Dual SpaceWire (100 Mbps), Dual UART (10 Mbps), HDLC Framing, and GPIO for Rx IRQ/Tx Enable. Additional support features include Idle/pilot insertion, Randomization, Bit-diff., Bi-Phase, NRZ-L/M/S, Coherent tone ranging, and PN Ranging.

Documentation

Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.

Source: web.archive.org ↗

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