Orbit Communication Systems

Orbit Communication Systems (formerly Orbit International, now being acquired by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in a $356 million deal announced in 2024) is a Netanya, Israel-based precision tracking antenna and satellite ground system company with over 60 years of operational heritage — providing telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) antenna systems, maritime tracking solutions, and antenna control systems for satellite operations, military applications, and airborne platform tracking across defense and commercial customers.

Orbit's core product lines center on precision mechanically-steered reflector antennas for satellite ground stations: fixed-site large dish antennas (from 1.2 to 13-meter aperture) for GEO satellite TT&C and data downlink, transportable antenna systems mounted on vehicle trailers for deployable military command posts and disaster response communications, and stabilized satellite tracking antennas for maritime vessels and airborne platforms that must maintain pointing lock on a GEO satellite despite ship pitch/roll/yaw or aircraft banking maneuvers.

The maritime antenna stabilization technology requires fast servo drives, inertial reference sensors, and predictive control algorithms that compensate for vessel motion to maintain the narrow beam pointing needed for Ku-band and Ka-band satellite communications.

The military and government customer base spans NATO member state defense forces, US military installations, intelligence agencies, and coast guard/naval organizations that require hardened, jam-resistant satellite communication links for deployed operations. Commercial customers include satellite operators (for TT&C earth stations), broadcast uplink facilities, and maritime shipping companies.

Orbit's acquisition by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions — a San Diego-based defense technology company specializing in satellite ground systems, electronic warfare, and national security communications — will integrate Orbit's antenna hardware expertise with Kratos's broader satellite ground software portfolio (including the OpenSpace ground system platform and COMPASS mission planning software).

The combined entity would offer end-to-end ground segment solutions from antenna hardware through mission control software, strengthening Kratos's position as a vertically integrated satellite ground system provider competing with Cobham, General Dynamics, and Collins Aerospace in the defense SATCOM terminal market.