T-XPDR Tactical Adaptive Satellite Transponder
Thorium Space Technology
Ka-band tactical adaptive satellite transponder using SDR and cognitive radio technologies with multi-beam electronically steered flat panel antennas for tactical satellite communications.
Technical specifications
- Operating frequency band
- Ka
- Signal generation
- Digital radio (SDR)
- Radio technology
- SDR + Cognitive Radio (CR)
- Antenna type
- Multi-beam flat panel, active phased array
- Beam steering
- Electronic (no moving parts)
- Application
- Tactical satellite communications (PTSC)
- Project timeline
- 2022–2025
- Funding program
- SZAFIR (Polish MOD / NCBR)
- Total qualified expenses
- 18,850,442 PLN
- Grant amount
- 16,965,396 PLN (90% of industrial research costs)
About
The T-XPDR (Taktyczny adaptacyjny transponder satelitarny) is a tactical adaptive satellite transponder developed by Thorium Space under the Polish SZAFIR defense and security technology program. It operates in the Ka band and is built on software-defined radio (SDR) and cognitive radio (CR) technologies, enabling adaptive signal processing and flexible modulation/coding scheme selection. The transponder is designed to provide tactical satellite communications (PTSC) for defense applications.
The antenna system uses multi-beam flat panel antennas with electronic beam steering implemented through active phased array technology. This enables rapid beam repositioning without mechanical components, which is critical for mobile tactical scenarios. The SDR/CR architecture allows the system to adapt its waveforms and frequency use dynamically in contested or congested radio environments.
The T-XPDR project ran from 2022 to 2025 with qualified expenses of 18.85M PLN, of which 16.97M PLN (90%) was funded by the Polish National Centre for Research and Development under SZAFIR Call 3/2021. The program targets development of modern breakthrough technologies for state security and defense.
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.