HAWTHORNE, California, — ThinKom Solutions and Systems Delta 88 (SYD 88) of the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) have successfully demonstrated the Ground Entry Combined K/Ka-band Operation (GECKO) satellite communications system.
The live demonstration took place at ThinKom’s facilities in Hawthorne, California. The system is designed as a rapidly deployable, multi-orbit SATCOM ground station housed inside a standard 20-foot ISO shipping container. It can provide satellite connectivity in locations where traditional communications infrastructure is unavailable, while maintaining a low visual profile.
GECKO uses ThinKom’s Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub (VICTS) phased-array technology and an advanced digital Beam Forming Device (BFD). Unlike traditional large parabolic satellite dishes, its low-profile design allows the equipment to be transported and deployed more easily.
During the demonstration, the system used three K-band receive arrays (17.7–21.2 GHz) and one Ka-band transmit array (27.5–31.0 GHz). The BFD combined signals from the three receive antennas, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio to 2.5 times that of a single array.
The system then used the same antennas to operate three independent beams simultaneously. One tracked a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite, while the other two maintained connections with separate Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites.
The test demonstrated phase-continuous operations across different satellite constellations. This allows GECKO to support a more resilient communications network without depending on a single satellite link. Its modular architecture also allows mission requirements to be distributed across multiple systems, while geographic site diversity can help reduce the effects of localized atmospheric interference.
Part of U.S. Space Force's GoBaG Initiative
The GECKO project is part of the Global Backup Gateway (GoBaG) initiative, a priority communications programme funded by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command. Its development was supported through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and SpaceWERX, with oversight from SYD 88.
ThinKom CTO and co-founder Bill Milroy said the project aims to provide secure and reliable communications that can be deployed quickly and remain concealed in dangerous and contested environments.
SYD 88 was established in September 2025 as an acquisition-focused unit within SSC. It works on delivering integrated tactical, strategic and narrowband satellite communications capabilities.
ThinKom has also developed VICTS-based phased-array technology for commercial aviation and military communications. In May 2026, the company was selected as the overall winner of SSC's Fight Tonight competition for its related Containerized Digital Array system, designed to support multi-orbit and multi-band satellite communications.
The latest GECKO demonstration adds a live test of containerized, multi-beam satellite connectivity, supporting the U.S. Space Force's efforts to develop more flexible and resilient ground-based communications infrastructure.
——— End of Article ———
