Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. saw its stock rise 2.8% in premarket trading on Tuesday following disclosure of a multimillion-dollar order for its Sidewinder electronically steered antenna terminals.
The buyer is described by Gilat as a large global avionics company. The order covers Sidewinder ESA units based on the Sidewinder platform designed by Gilat's Stellar Blu business unit. According to the company, deliveries are expected within the next six months.
Gilat said the Sidewinder ESA terminals are engineered for use across a range of aviation segments, including commercial carriers, business aviation, VIP transport, government, and military applications. The system is built to support high throughput satellite networks and to provide consistent, high-speed connectivity for both passengers and crew.
Electronic beam steering lies at the core of the Sidewinder system. Compared with conventional mechanically steered antennas, Gilat highlights advantages that include faster satellite acquisition, improved reliability, and lower maintenance demands. The company also notes that the Sidewinder system is compatible with geostationary (GEO) satellites as well as with OneWeb's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation.
Ron Levin, President of Gilat Commercial Division, commented on the platform's market progress: "Sidewinder continues to gain strong traction in the inflight connectivity market as operators and partners look for scalable, next generation antenna solutions."
Company statements characterize this order as evidence of continued momentum for the ESA platform and as a reflection of rising demand for inflight connectivity solutions that pair high performance with a low-profile, lightweight form factor.
Key context and implications
- The order contributes to Gilat's commercial momentum for its Sidewinder ESA platform and was sufficient to move the stock higher in premarket trading.
- The product targets multiple aviation markets, indicating cross-segment relevance spanning commercial, business, VIP, government, and military operators.
- Technical compatibility with both GEO and OneWeb's LEO constellation positions the terminals for deployment across different satellite network architectures.
Operational notes
- Deliveries for the multimillion-dollar order are scheduled to occur within the next six months, according to Gilat.
- The buyer is identified only as a large global avionics company; the customer has not been publicly named in the company's announcement.