Stellar Blu Solutions
Stellar Blu Solutions designs the Sidewinder electronically steered antenna (ESA) terminal for in-flight connectivity, compatible with GEO and LEO satellite networks, serving commercial, business, VIP, government, and military aviation markets. Now operates as a subsidiary of Gilat Satellite Networks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersDallas, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Stellar Blu Solutions does
Stellar Blu Solutions, founded in 2020 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a connectivity and avionics technology company specializing in electronically steered antenna (ESA) systems for in-flight connectivity. The company's flagship product is the Sidewinder ESA terminal, an antenna system designed to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to aircraft at cruising altitudes. The terminal is compatible with both geostationary (GEO) satellites and low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations, specifically including Eutelsat OneWeb, enabling airlines and operators to deploy multi-orbit satellite architectures for cabin connectivity.
The Sidewinder terminal targets commercial, business, VIP, government, and military aviation markets, addressing demand for reliable, high-bandwidth passenger and operational connectivity. Stellar Blu distributes its hardware primarily through direct enterprise sales to satellite operators, major global avionics companies, and airline operators, with delivery cycles of six to twelve months per order. The company has secured a $39 million order from a leading satellite operator and multimillion-dollar orders from a major global avionics integrator and the Abra Group, covering connectivity rollouts for over 100 aircraft.
In mid-2025, Stellar Blu was acquired by Gilat Satellite Networks (NASDAQ: GILT) and now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary under the Gilat Stellar Blu brand. The acquisition contributed to Gilat's reported 48% year-over-year growth in commercial in-flight connectivity revenue in 2025, reaching $281 million. The company employs 51-100 people and is led by CEO Tracy R. Trent. Prior to acquisition, Stellar Blu raised a $27 million funding round in June 2025, reflecting pre-deal scaling activity to support its order backlog and integration with the OneWeb LEO network.
Stellar Blu Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stellar Blu Solutions
- Legal name
- Stellar Blu Solutions
- Website
- https://stellar-blu.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Stellar Blu Solutions designs the Sidewinder electronically steered antenna (ESA) terminal for in-flight connectivity, compatible with GEO and LEO satellite networks, serving commercial, business, VIP, government, and military aviation markets. Now operates as a subsidiary of Gilat Satellite Networks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stellar Blu Solutions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- In-Flight Connectivity Hardware
- NAICS
- Satellite Telecommunications (517410), Satellite Telecommunications (51741)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Satellite Broadband Terminals & Gateways (VSAT/LEO CPE) (HDAFAIAM)
Keywords
Where Stellar Blu Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dallas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Stellar Blu Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Sidewinder ESA Terminal Sales: Sale of Sidewinder electronically steered antenna terminals to satellite operators, avionics companies, and airline operators. Deliveries typically span 6-12 months per order. Terminal hardware sales to commercial, business, VIP, government, and military aviation markets.
- In-Flight Connectivity Hardware: Multi-orbit antenna systems enabling cabin connectivity for airlines, targeting commercial, business, VIP, government, and military aviation sectors with Sidewinder terminals compatible with both GEO and LEO constellations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Stellar Blu Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stellar Blu Solutions designs and manufactures the Sidewinder Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) terminal for in-flight connectivity. The terminal provides high-speed broadband cabin connectivity at cruising altitudes and is compatible with both geostationary (GEO) satellites and Eutelsat OneWeb's low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation, enabling multi-orbit satellite architectures. The product is sold to commercial, business, VIP, government, and military aviation markets.
Product overview
Stellar Blu Solutions, acquired by Gilat Satellite Networks in mid-2025 and operating as Gilat Stellar Blu, is an in-flight connectivity technology company. The company's primary product is the Sidewinder Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) terminal, which provides high-speed broadband connectivity at cruising altitudes. The Sidewinder ESA is an electronically steered antenna compatible with both geostationary (GEO) satellites and Eutelsat OneWeb's low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation, supporting multi-orbit satellite architectures for cabin connectivity. The product targets commercial, business, VIP, government, and military aviation markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sidewinder: Electronically steered antenna (ESA) terminal for in-flight connectivity, compatible with both GEO satellites and LEO constellations including OneWeb. Targets commercial, business, VIP, government, and military aviation markets.
Products and services
- Sidewinder Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) Terminal Electronically steered antenna terminal for in-flight connectivity, compatible with both geostationary (GEO) satellites and Eutelsat OneWeb's low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation. Delivers high-speed broadband connectivity at cruising altitudes for commercial, business, VIP, government, and military aviation markets.
Quantifiable outcome
- 48% year-over-year revenue growth in 2025 for Gilat's in-flight connectivity business
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Stellar Blu Solutions
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Stellar Blu Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Stellar Blu Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Gilat Satellite Networks (Parent Company)coreGilat Satellite Networks acquired Stellar Blu in mid-2025, making it a subsidiary. Stellar Blu develops the Sidewinder ESA terminal which is now part of Gilat's in-flight connectivity portfolio. This acquisition drove Gilat's 48% YoY revenue growth in 2025 with commercial revenue reaching $281 million.
- Eutelsat OneWebcoreThe Sidewinder ESA terminal is compatible with Eutelsat OneWeb's low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation, enabling multi-orbit satellite connectivity for in-flight applications. This integration allows airlines to leverage both GEO and LEO satellite systems for cabin broadband connectivity.
- Leading Satellite Operator (unnamed)majorUnnamed leading satellite operator placed a $39M order for Sidewinder ESA terminals from Gilat Stellar Blu, with deliveries expected over the next 12 months. This represents a significant enterprise customer relationship.
- Major Global Avionics Company (unnamed)majorMajor global avionics company secured a multimillion order for Sidewinder electronically steered antenna inflight connectivity terminals from Gilat Stellar Blu. Deliveries scheduled over six months targeting commercial, business, VIP, government, and military aviation markets.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Stellar Blu Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Astronics Corporation: Astronics is a direct peer in aircraft antenna and connectivity systems, offering connectivity hardware, in-flight entertainment, and avionics subsystems to commercial aviation and defense markets. They compete with Stellar Blu's Sidewinder in cabin connectivity terminals and aircraft antenna subsystems.
- ThinKom Solutions: ThinKom is a direct competitor to Stellar Blu, producing mechanically and electronically steered antenna terminals (ThinAir and ThinSat) for in-flight connectivity across commercial and government aviation. Both companies sell directly to satellite operators and avionics integrators for multi-orbit IFC architectures.
- Panasonic Avionics: Panasonic Avionics is a direct peer and one of the largest in-flight connectivity and entertainment system providers to commercial airlines. It competes with Stellar Blu by bundling its own antenna terminals with connectivity services and content offerings to airline customers globally.
Broad incumbents
- Honeywell Aerospace: Honeywell is a broad incumbent in aerospace, offering satellite communications terminals (e.g., JetWave) for IFC, plus broader avionics portfolios. It competes with Stellar Blu by offering bundled connectivity hardware and services to airlines, business jet operators, and government aviation customers.
- Viasat: Viasat is a broad incumbent satellite operator and IFC service provider, operating its own Ka-band satellite capacity (and now merged with Inmarsat) and offering bundled connectivity services to airlines. It is a relevant peer because airlines often procure Stellar Blu's Sidewinder terminals alongside Viasat's satellite capacity.
- Intelsat (including Gogo Commercial Aviation): Intelsat, having acquired Gogo's commercial aviation business, is a major IFC service provider offering satellite capacity and managed connectivity to airlines globally. It is a relevant peer as an indirect buyer/complementor of Stellar Blu's terminals and a competitor in the broader IFC value chain.
- Hughes Network Systems: Hughes is a broad incumbent in satellite ground systems and terminals, producing antenna terminals and gateways for GEO and LEO networks (including OneWeb). It is comparable to Stellar Blu as a fellow producer of satellite broadband CPE/terminals serving enterprise and mobility customers.
Emerging players
- Kymeta Corporation: Kymeta is an emerging player producing flat-panel electronically steered antennas for satellite communications on land and maritime platforms. While its commercial aviation footprint is smaller than Stellar Blu's, it is a relevant emerging peer pursuing the same ESA-based multi-orbit architecture.
- Satixfy: Satixfy is an emerging player developing satellite communication chips and ESA terminals for in-flight, land-mobile, and other applications. It is comparable to Stellar Blu as a competing ESA technology provider targeting IFC and multi-orbit connectivity use cases.
Others
- Ball Aerospace: Ball Aerospace designs and manufactures spacecraft antennas and RF systems, including for communications and remote sensing missions. It is an adjacent/ecosystem participant supplying antenna technology into space-based communications infrastructure that complements Stellar Blu's aircraft-side terminals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Stellar Blu Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceStellar Blu Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stellar Blu Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Stellar Blu Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stellar Blu Solutions M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Stellar Blu Solutions
What does Stellar Blu Solutions do?
Stellar Blu Solutions designs and manufactures the Sidewinder Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA) terminal for in-flight connectivity. The terminal provides high-speed broadband cabin connectivity at cruising altitudes and is compatible with both geostationary (GEO) satellites and Eutelsat OneWeb's low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation, enabling multi-orbit satellite architectures. The product is sold to commercial, business, VIP, government, and military aviation markets.
Is Stellar Blu Solutions a public or private company?
Stellar Blu Solutions is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Stellar Blu Solutions founded?
Stellar Blu Solutions was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Stellar Blu Solutions based?
Stellar Blu Solutions is headquartered in Dallas, United States, in the North America region.
How does Stellar Blu Solutions make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Sidewinder ESA Terminal Sales are the primary driver. The others are in-Flight Connectivity Hardware.
Who are Stellar Blu Solutions's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Astronics Corporation, ThinKom Solutions and Panasonic Avionics. Broad incumbents are Honeywell Aerospace, Viasat, Intelsat (including Gogo Commercial Aviation) and Hughes Network Systems. Emerging players are Kymeta Corporation and Satixfy. Ball Aerospace is listed as an others.
Does Stellar Blu Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stellar Blu Solutions.
What industry is Stellar Blu Solutions in?
Stellar Blu Solutions's product category is In-Flight Connectivity Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAFAIAM, Satellite Broadband Terminals & Gateways (VSAT/LEO CPE). Its NAICS code is 517410 and its SIC code is 3812.