The Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded Viasat a $50.8 million IDIQ contract to develop ‘prototype space systems’, the US DoD announced on 2 February.
Viasat will provide studies, design, manufacturing, integration, performance qualification, network space segment elements, launch, flight and demonstration services for these systems.
The contract also includes the development, integration and demonstration with ground terminals ‘in conjunction with the government ground segment’, the DoD noted, to reduce risk and assess performance and functionality for future protected service.
Work will be performed in Carlsbad, California, and is expected to be completed in early May 2028.
Viasat traditionally focused on geostationary satellite-based communications but it has recently expanded into low-Earth orbit satellites, cybersecurity and network operations.
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The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
DARPA’s Mission-Integrated Network Control (MINC) programme was set up to develop an autonomous tactical network and enable critical data flow in contested environments.
Why space is an essential part of modern military capabilities
Defence-secure mixed reality headsets can save hours, or even weeks, of travel time to fix defunct equipment or get subject experts effectively “on-site” where they are needed.
The Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) and Drone Restricted Access Using Known Electromagnetic Warfare (DRAKE) counter-UAS (CUAS) systems are mounted and dismounted RF jammers.
Adarga’s Vantage information analysis tool is in service with the UK MoD and individual UK forces. It builds on the company’s Knowledge Platform which processes, organises and analyses open source material, as well as information held by the user’s military, security and intelligence services.
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