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European Defence Fund

5 May 2023

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Ongoing project

Miniaturized Board-mountable Optical Transceiver For High Data Rate Military Satellite Communications (MINI-BOT)

  • GA:
  • Duration:
  • Overall budget:
  • Amount of EU funding (VIGO):
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  • 101092697
  • 01/12/2022 – 30/11/2025
  • EUR 3 422 099,17
  • EUR 3 422 099,17
  • Leo Space Photonics R&D Monoprosopiike (Greece)
  • Leo Space Photonics R&D Monoprosopiike (Greece), VIGO Photonics S.A. (Poland), NAPA Technologies (France), Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) – France
  • GA: 101092697
  • Duration: 01/12/2022 – 30/11/2025
  • Overall budget: EUR 3 422 099,17
  • Amount of EU funding (VIGO): EUR 3 422 099,17
  • Project coordinator: Leo Space Photonics R&D Monoprosopiike (Greece)
  • Project consortium: Leo Space Photonics R&D Monoprosopiike (Greece), VIGO Photonics S.A. (Poland), NAPA Technologies (France), Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) – France

Military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) is identified as the key tactical advantage in modern warfare. MILSATCOM rely on onboard digital processors (OBPs) to deliver high-capacity, real-time and on the move connectivity. In their most advanced form and function, currently being commercially introduced, OBPs deploy optical transceivers (OTRXs) for high data rate backplane and inter equipment optical fiber connections. They are deployed in the highest volumes and must meet the SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power and Cost) criteria applied to new electronic devices. The currently produced OTRXs do not meet all the SWaP-C criteria, and they need a significant modernization. For example, they are assembled by hand in complex and low-production manufacturing processes.  Most importantly the current commercial offerings are dominated by US vendors or they critically depend on export controlled US technologies. Mini-BOT aims to establish the first European supply chain of hi-rel OTRXs removing dependency barriers and unlocking the full potential of military fiber optics to the European A&D and space industry.

In the framework of the Mini-BOT project, Consortium will develop, design, produce and test modern European OTRXs that will correspond to the SWaP-C criteria. One of the key components of future OTRXs will be VCSELs (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers).

In the framework of the Mini-BOT project, VIGO Photonics S.A. will be engaged in the implementation of the following tasks:

  • Participation in development of configuration and interfaces of the OTRX module;
  • Development, design, production and tests epitaxy heterostructure to VCSELs.