MAI Develops a New Satellite Communications System for Unmanned Vehicles

Untapped Potential

Satellite communications technologies have long become part of everyday life and are widely used across a broad range of applications. At the same time, much of this field’s potential remains unrealized, and scientists continue to point to new technological directions and concepts.

Scientists at the Moscow Aviation Institute are no exception. The institute is currently developing a fundamentally new satellite communications technology designed specifically for controlling unmanned vehicles. Conceptually, the system aims to provide services comparable to those of SpaceX’s widely publicized Starlink network. However, the developers avoid direct comparisons, emphasizing that this is not an attempt to replicate an existing solution but to create a genuinely new architecture. The key distinction lies in the approach: instead of relying on massive low-Earth-orbit constellations, communications would be delivered through just a single geostationary satellite.

Coverage Across Most of the Country

“We are talking about one spacecraft instead of a constellation of hundreds or thousands. This satellite can ‘see’ almost the entire territory of the Russian Federation, excluding, perhaps, near-polar regions. In practical terms, that means coverage of about 85–90% of the country,” explained Nikita Matasov, project lead at the Center for Space Technologies of the Moscow Aviation Institute and a postgraduate researcher at the Department of Space Systems and Rocket Engineering.

The primary objective of the project is to establish a secure communications channel linking an unmanned platform, a geostationary satellite, and an operations center. The system also incorporates data from remote sensing technologies. For example, when unexpected obstacles are detected, information is transmitted to the control center, which then sends corrective commands via the geostationary satellite. These commands adjust the route of an unmanned ground vehicle, maritime vessel, or aircraft, enabling timely trajectory corrections.

We are currently testing various commercially available terminals. Meanwhile, we are developing our own terminal for communicating with unmanned vehicles via a geostationary satellite, and eventually through domestic low-Earth-orbit constellations as well. In the near term, we expect to produce an engineering or industrial prototype to validate the system’s performance

Nikita Matasov

Project Lead, Center for Space Technologies, Moscow Aviation Institute

New Communication Terminals

At the core of the system will be a new communications terminal embedding proprietary algorithms designed to manage the entire control chain. Stable operation requires interference-resistant links over vast distances, while maintaining compatibility with existing satellites and unmanned platforms. At the same time, the terminal must remain as compact as possible.

Using a single-satellite control architecture is expected to significantly reduce operational costs and simplify system maintenance. The developers stress that the project is not intended for mass-market deployment or direct competition with Starlink. Its current strategic focus is to provide reliable and secure communications for critical infrastructure and autonomous vehicles operating in remote and hard-to-reach areas, including maritime routes.

Aligned With Strategic Priorities

Russia is currently implementing a federal program for the comprehensive development of space-based information technologies known as Sfera. Scheduled to run through 2030, the program encompasses projects across multiple domains. Plans include the creation of a satellite constellation of up to 640 spacecraft, designed, among other objectives, to support the development of unmanned transport systems on land and water.

This effort reflects the rapid growth of the unmanned systems market. In 2024, its value was estimated at 35.9 billion rubles (about $430 million). Analysts forecast that by 2030 the market could reach 70 billion rubles (roughly $840 million). The strongest economic impact from unmanned systems is currently observed in agriculture, energy, and the oil and gas sector.

Against this backdrop, the MAI development closely aligns with current technological and market trends. The experience gained through geostationary communications, including terminals, algorithms, and secure data transmission protocols, could later be scaled and incorporated into larger multi-satellite low-Earth-orbit systems. In that sense, the project may serve as a building block for future national satellite infrastructures.