Blab Tech
Parsons Unveils SPARTAN Reflectarray Antenna That Blocks Space Jamming With 95% Less Power
On March 23 2026, Parsons—a U.S. defense contractor—unveiled the SPARTAN (S‑Band Phased Array Receive and Transmit Antenna Node), a satellite antenna that marries a six‑meter parabolic dish with an electronically steerable reflectarray. The design promises to jam‑block signals in space while consuming 95 % less power than traditional dishes, a feature aimed at safeguarding communications in dense low‑Earth orbit constellations that are increasingly exposed to jamming and spoofing.
Reflectarray antennas rely on an array of unit cells that reflect an incoming wave from a feed horn, each cell adding a precise phase delay. By tailoring the phase distribution, the reflected waves combine constructively in a chosen direction, creating a narrow beam that mimics a conventional dish but with a much slimmer profile. In the SPARTAN, the phase of each cell can be adjusted electronically, enabling rapid beam steering without any moving parts.
Space‑based electronic warfare typically takes the form of jamming, where an adversary emits high‑power radio‑frequency energy to swamp a satellite’s receiver. Ground‑based jammers—such as those the U.S. Space Force plans to deploy—and satellite‑to‑satellite jammers can disrupt communications or navigation signals, with GNSS jamming posing a particular threat by degrading or denying positioning services. Reflectarray technology mitigates these risks by concentrating the received signal into a tight beam, thereby reducing the influence of broad‑band jamming.
The reported power savings are especially valuable for low‑Earth orbit platforms, where payload mass and power budgets are tightly constrained. By drawing only a fraction of the power required for a conventional dish, the SPARTAN can extend a satellite’s endurance or free capacity for additional payloads. Its electronically steerable beam also removes the need for mechanical gimbals, cutting mechanical complexity and potential failure points in the harsh space environment.
Parsons’ announcement followed a partnership with Raven Defense, a firm that specializes in space‑based electronic warfare solutions. The SPARTAN incorporates a six‑meter dish that can be deployed from a satellite’s body, echoing the deployable reflectarray panels described in U.S. patent US20170110803A1. This collaboration reflects a broader trend among U.S. defense contractors to develop compact, low‑power antennas for large constellations—a need underscored by the Space Force’s planned ground‑based jammers and the growing reliance on satellite constellations for military communications.
Other U.S. players are also advancing in the space‑antenna arena. MDA Space was selected by BAE Systems to supply antennas and electronics for the Space Force’s MEO missile‑warning satellites under the Epoch 2 program, while the European Space Agency has funded research into flat reflectarray designs that can be manufactured like printed circuits. The SPARTAN antenna marks the latest step toward antennas that can operate effectively in contested space while consuming minimal power.
At present, the SPARTAN remains in the demonstration phase, with Parsons and Raven Defense conducting flight‑test campaigns on existing satellite platforms. No procurement contracts have yet been awarded, and the U.S. government has not announced a deployment schedule. The technology could become a key component of future low‑Earth orbit constellations that demand resilient communications, but its commercial viability will hinge on the pace of satellite‑to‑satellite jamming capabilities and the broader adoption of reflectarray designs by the defense community.
Reflectarray antennas rely on an array of unit cells that reflect an incoming wave from a feed horn, each cell adding a precise phase delay. By tailoring the phase distribution, the reflected waves combine constructively in a chosen direction, creating a narrow beam that mimics a conventional dish but with a much slimmer profile. In the SPARTAN, the phase of each cell can be adjusted electronically, enabling rapid beam steering without any moving parts.
Space‑based electronic warfare typically takes the form of jamming, where an adversary emits high‑power radio‑frequency energy to swamp a satellite’s receiver. Ground‑based jammers—such as those the U.S. Space Force plans to deploy—and satellite‑to‑satellite jammers can disrupt communications or navigation signals, with GNSS jamming posing a particular threat by degrading or denying positioning services. Reflectarray technology mitigates these risks by concentrating the received signal into a tight beam, thereby reducing the influence of broad‑band jamming.
The reported power savings are especially valuable for low‑Earth orbit platforms, where payload mass and power budgets are tightly constrained. By drawing only a fraction of the power required for a conventional dish, the SPARTAN can extend a satellite’s endurance or free capacity for additional payloads. Its electronically steerable beam also removes the need for mechanical gimbals, cutting mechanical complexity and potential failure points in the harsh space environment.
Parsons’ announcement followed a partnership with Raven Defense, a firm that specializes in space‑based electronic warfare solutions. The SPARTAN incorporates a six‑meter dish that can be deployed from a satellite’s body, echoing the deployable reflectarray panels described in U.S. patent US20170110803A1. This collaboration reflects a broader trend among U.S. defense contractors to develop compact, low‑power antennas for large constellations—a need underscored by the Space Force’s planned ground‑based jammers and the growing reliance on satellite constellations for military communications.
Other U.S. players are also advancing in the space‑antenna arena. MDA Space was selected by BAE Systems to supply antennas and electronics for the Space Force’s MEO missile‑warning satellites under the Epoch 2 program, while the European Space Agency has funded research into flat reflectarray designs that can be manufactured like printed circuits. The SPARTAN antenna marks the latest step toward antennas that can operate effectively in contested space while consuming minimal power.
At present, the SPARTAN remains in the demonstration phase, with Parsons and Raven Defense conducting flight‑test campaigns on existing satellite platforms. No procurement contracts have yet been awarded, and the U.S. government has not announced a deployment schedule. The technology could become a key component of future low‑Earth orbit constellations that demand resilient communications, but its commercial viability will hinge on the pace of satellite‑to‑satellite jamming capabilities and the broader adoption of reflectarray designs by the defense community.
