CARLSBAD, Calif., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat
Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company,
announced today it has been awarded a contract by the Administrator
of the Space Enterprise Consortium, under the Air Force Research
Laboratory Space Vehicles XVI program, to deliver and test the
first-ever Link 16-capable LEO spacecraft. Leveraging the Company's
leadership in satellite innovation and military communications, the
Viasat-designed spacecraft is intended to enhance warfighters'
situational awareness by extending the range of Link 16 networks –
using a constellation of satellites to provide greater access to
Link 16 capabilities in contested or congested environments.
Under the XVI program, Viasat will become the first company to
prototype and test space-based Link 16 capabilities compatible with
fielded U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Special
Operations Link 16-enabled platforms, including ground vehicles,
aircraft, maritime vessels, and dismounted users. The XVI program
is a key step towards making a global Link 16-enabled LEO satellite
constellation, transforming Link 16 from a Line-of-Sight (LOS) to a
Beyond Line-of-Site (BLOS) network, providing U.S. and allied
military forces with ubiquitous, secure, high-speed and resilient
communications necessary to improve the common operating picture
across the global battlespace.
"The XVI award highlights Viasat technology leadership in Link
16 and space-borne tactical communications," said Ken
Peterman, president, Government Systems, Viasat. "Our
innovative spacecraft design and development coupled with expertise
in next-generation tactical datalinks and cybersecurity places
Viasat in a unique position to address the Department of Defense's
urgent need for a fast-to-market, cost-effective, space-based Link
16 solution to maintain a technological edge in contested
environments."
Viasat's Link 16-capable LEO satellite is designed to fit the
Viasat Hybrid Adaptive Network (HAN) satellite communications
(SATCOM) concept. The HAN architecture will allow users to operate
across commercial and government SATCOM networks and multiple
orbital regimes, creating an end-to-end multi-layered solution
resilient to network congestion, intentional and unintentional
interference and cyber threats – even in highly-contested
environments. The Link 16-capable LEO satellite will allow Link 16
networks to leverage the resilient, global connectivity
capabilities of the HAN and share information with other
warfighters, anywhere in the world.
Today, Viasat offers an extensive portfolio of Link 16 terminal
configurations and form factors. Link 16 communications networks
provide the U.S. and international allies with greater situational
awareness by exchanging digital data over a common data link that
is continuously and automatically updated in real-time, reducing
the chance of fratricide or duplicate assignments, while
significantly enhancing mission effectiveness.
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications
company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be
connected. For more than 30 years, Viasat has helped
shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around
the world communicate. Today, the Company is developing the
ultimate global communications network to power high-quality,
secure, affordable, fast connections to impact people's lives
anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea. To learn
more about Viasat, visit: www.viasat.com, go
to Viasat's Corporate Blog, or follow the Company on
social media
at: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains
forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors
created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include statements
about Viasat's Link 16-capable LEO spacecraft, including its
capabilities, performance and delivery timeline, and the features
and benefits of Viasat's Hybrid Adaptive Network. Readers are
cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those
expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could
cause actual results to differ include: risks associated with
satellite failures, including the effect of any anomaly,
operational failure or degradation in performance; contractual
problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or delays,
regulatory issues, technologies not being developed according to
anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to
expectations; delays in approving U.S. government budgets and cuts
in government defense expenditures; and increased competition and
other factors affecting the government and defense sectors
generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained
in Viasat's SEC filings available
at www.sec.gov, including Viasat's most recent
Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on
which they are made. Viasat undertakes no obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.
Copyright © 2019 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat, the
Viasat logo and the Viasat signal are registered trademarks of
Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used
for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their
respective owners.
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SOURCE Viasat, Inc.