The Australian Department of Defence has selected ViaSat Inc. to supply the UHF Satellite Communication Mission System for its recently launched UHF capacity on Intelsat IS-22.
The system is designed to provide voice and data military satcom covering a region from the west coast of Africa to the east coast of Australia. The value of the award to ViaSat is approximately $35 million.
The IS-22 satellite launched March 26 with a hosted UHF payload – representing about 30 percent of the satellite’s total capacity – dedicated to ADF communications. The ability to serve small, mobile terminals used by ground, sea, and air forces in all types of terrain make UHF especially suited to military satcom.
“The Network Control System will use satellites in the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions to support the resource sharing partnership with the United States,” said Stephen Smith, Australia Minister for Defence. “The NCS will become a critical component for UHF communications for ADF personnel operating in the
Middle East.”
Partnering with Australian industry, ViaSat is responsible for providing a complete UHF Network Control System that includes system architecture, design, development, integration and test, site preparation, equipment procurement and installation, and ongoing support. The system is also designed to include the Integrated Waveform for channel control and network terminals, enabling an increase in channel efficiency and available bandwidth.
“I think our ability to deliver IW capability is the significant reason we were chosen for this award,” said Jerry Goodwin, VP Business Development at ViaSat. “That technology is something we feel is important to maintaining a leadership position in global UHF satcom systems and services.”
ViaSat UHF systems are installed in the United States and internationally, including Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.
