INTELSAT type approval of military tri-band SATCOM terminals

Through compliance with the relevant modules of the INTELSAT Earth Station Standards (IESS), manufacturers of earth stations that are intended to access the near-global INTELSAT commercial satellite communications system demonstrate that their equipment will neither use excessive space segment resources nor cause harmful interference. However, the need to individually certify compliance of a large number of like earth stations can place an unreasonable burden on all concerned: the manufacturer, the user and INTELSAT; A "type approval" process has been developed that facilitates the use of certain groups of antennas and small-aperture earth stations on the INTELSAT system. INTELSAT type approval of military tri-band earth stations is described including the rationale behind the process, the steps involved, and the characteristics important for obtaining approval. To the military communicator; INTELSAT type approval means that once a complete earth station has such type approval, no further testing is required for access to the INTELSAT system.