Aerospace slip rings

The supreme discipline of transmission technology

»The use of aerospace slip rings is the supreme discipline of rotary transmission technology. In no other field are the demands for precision, reliability and technical robustness as high as in safety-critical aerospace applications.«

Slip rings for aviation applications

Rotary connections for aviation (aircraft slip rings) are typically compact custom designs that must function reliably under extreme conditions. These include severe temperature fluctuations, shock, vibration and radioactive radiation. Special requirements also apply to documentation, qualification and product specification. Close coordination with our customers – from the development phase onward – is therefore a key success factor.

ATC and radar slip rings

Our slip rings are deployed worldwide in ATC and radar systems (radar slip rings aerospace). They transmit power and high-frequency signals for tracking radar applications reliably and with low loss, enabling precise detection of aircraft position, direction and speed within airport airspace. They play a critical role in ensuring safe and efficient air traffic – at all times. Learn more about our solutions for security and defense systems.

Slip rings for helicopters and EO/IR systems

The demanding slip rings used in helicopters typically transmit data for EO/IR sensors (electro-optical/infrared), laser seekers or infrared cameras. Depending on the mission profile, helicopters face extreme conditions. Data transmission from an infrared camera is particularly complex and requires high transmission speeds, especially for real-time video transfers.

Passengers in an airplane, looking at a seat with an integrated screen in the front seat

Inflight entertainment slip rings

Slip rings are also on board of commercial aircrafts. They are an integral part of modern inflight entertainment systems, transmitting electrical power and data between rotating and stationary system components. Inflight entertainment slip rings enable stable network and streaming applications while supporting high data rates in a compact form factor.

Large white radar dome surrounded by trees under a clear sky

Space surveillance from earth

In space, unique conditions prevail that regularly pose major challenges for the engineers. Here in particular, it is absolutely crucial that every component works perfectly: Whether subjected to a vacuum or extreme temperature fluctuations, during the development and manufacture of tailor-made slip rings for the conditions in outer space, we view frontiers as hurdles to be overcome.

To guarantee safety in spaceflight, slip rings are also used on the ground: They are deployed in satellite systems, space observation facilities and ground-based radar systems (slip rings for space applications) – including complex systems such as the TIRA space observation radar (Tracking and Imaging Radar). Located in Wachtberg, Germany, with a dome diameter of 47.5 meters, TIRA is the world’s largest ground-based radar system outside the United States. TIRA is the only system capable of imaging objects such as satellites in high resolution from the ground. It is used to precisely measure space debris, avoid satellite evasion maneuvers or image out-of-control objects.

We set great store by close cooperation with our customers – already during the development phase. This enables us to achieve excellent results.

The supreme discipline of transmission technology

Slip rings for aviation applications

ATC and radar slip rings

Slip rings for helicopters and EO/IR systems

Inflight entertainment slip rings

Space surveillance from earth

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