Transportable Optical Ground Station (TOGS)
Rapid deployment of secure, high-throughput communications in contested environments
Context
In contested environments, maintaining communications is critical to ensure continuity of operations and mission data flow. Data volumes are increasing significantly, including EO imagery, ISR data, mission updates, and coordination traffic.
These exchanges must meet a single critical requirement: ensuring that data transmission does not compromise ongoing operations or expose sensitive command posts.
Optical communications address this challenge by enabling low probability of detection and interception (LPD/LPI) links, while remaining immune to RF jamming and effective in electromagnetically denied environments.
However, operational deployments must function in non-prepared, dynamic, and time-constrained environments, where fixed ground stations are not suitable.
Challenges
- High mobility without complex logistics
- Deployment without fixed infrastructure
- Rapid installation on unprepared terrain
- Low detectability in operational environments
- Resilience to jamming and interception
Cailabs solution
To address these constraints, Cailabs and DataPath are developing a Transportable Optical Ground Station (TOGS) designed for direct field deployment. The system is mounted on a skid and transportable via truck or trailer, enabling rapid deployment without civil engineering in the field. It establishes bidirectional optical links with LEO satellite constellations, delivering secure, high-throughput communications and ensuring a discreet data transfer between forward and rear command posts.
TOGS is currently under development to address the growing need for deployable, secure optical communication infrastructure in defense operations.
Interested in TOGS?
Contact our team to learn more about the ongoing development and upcoming demonstrations.
