ThinAir Commercial IFC Antennas
ThinKom Solutions, Inc.
ThinKom's ThinAir family of phased-array in-flight connectivity (IFC) antennas provide high-capacity, multi-orbit satellite connectivity for commercial airline passengers.
Typed specifications23 values
Discloses 6 of 10 fields engineers filter by in this category (category median 3).
- Frequency band
- Ka datasheet p.2
- Mass
- 63 500 g datasheet p.2 63 500 g 140 lb
- Frequency range
- 17 700–21 200 MHz Rx · datasheet p.2 27 500–31 000 MHz Tx
- Beamwidth (-3 dB)
- 2.4 ° azimuth, Rx · datasheet p.2 1.8 ° azimuth, Tx | 2.4 ° Rx | 1.8 ° Tx
- Envelope (L×W×H)
- 1.0m x 0.8m x 0.1m datasheet p.2
- Polarization
- dual simultaneous dual-pol mode · datasheet p.2 circular switchable (co/orthogonal) | other switchable circular | switchable Switchable circular (co/orthogonal), simultaneous dual-pol mode | other simultaneous dual-pol
- Antenna type
- other VICTS (patented ThinKom technology), fully integrated multi-o… · datasheet p.1
- Power consumption
- 228 W Average Power · datasheet p.2
- Operating temperature
- -55–70 °C external · datasheet p.2
- Axial ratio
- 1.5 dB max · typical · datasheet p.2
- G/T
- 11 dB/K at 20° elev. · datasheet p.2 16 dB/K peak
- EIRP
- 51 dBW datasheet p.2 46 dBW at 20° elev., 25 W Plin SSPB
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 supplier10 lines, in the manufacturer's own wording
- Motor type
- High-torque brushless DC motors
- RF layers
- Three, entirely passive
- Electronics location
- Hosted in cabin (protected)
- Profile
- Low profile, streamlined shape; lowest drag phased array on the market
- Orbit compatibility
- Multi-orbit: LEO, MEO, GEO and HEO with the same antenna
- Downlink data rate
- Up to 800 Mbps
- Uplink data rate
- Up to 200 Mbps
- Scan performance
- Superior low elevation scan performance vs. other phased array antennas, enabling high-latitude GEO operation
- Efficiency
- Significantly more efficient than any other phased array of the same size
- Reliability
- Highest guaranteed antenna MTBF on the market
About
ThinAir is ThinKom’s line of Ka/Ku-band phased-array antennas mounted under aircraft radomes to deliver in-flight connectivity (IFC) to airline passengers via satellite links. The antennas can switch seamlessly between LEO, MEO, GEO and HEO satellite orbits using the same hardware, supporting downlink data rates up to 800 Mbps and uplink up to 200 Mbps. Key design attributes include high-torque brushless DC motors with no contacting parts, enabling reliable, rapid satellite-to-satellite switching; three fully passive RF layers that increase efficiency and reduce prime power consumption; protected electronics hosted in the cabin rather than under the radome, improving reliability; and a low-profile, streamlined shape that gives the antennas the lowest drag of any phased array on the market. ThinKom states the antennas offer superior low-elevation scan performance versus competing phased arrays, allowing operation at high-latitude GEO look angles, and claims the highest guaranteed antenna MTBF (mean time between failures) on the market. The product family has accumulated numerous installations and operational hours across commercial airline fleets worldwide, serving millions of connected passengers.
Documentation
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.