CARLSBAD and SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Oct. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat
Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, and
AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in
unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), today announced they will
collaborate on a contract awarded under the U.S. Army
Reconfigurable Communications for Small Unmanned Systems (RCSUS)
initiative. The project will provide U.S. military customers flying
small UAS platforms the ability to deploy a robust, on-demand,
highly-secure communications network that will address the growing
electronic warfare capabilities of peer and near-peer
adversaries.
Viasat is the prime contractor on the award and will work with
AeroVironment to develop and demonstrate advanced, encrypted
communications suitable for AeroVironment's portable, hand-launched
Puma AE™ tactical UAS. The two companies will seek to strengthen
the communications and transmission security of AeroVironment's
Digital Data Link™ (DDL) radios currently used by the U.S. Army by
converting them into a Type 1 crypto communication system for video
and data transmission.
In addition, Viasat and AeroVironment will develop critical
interoperability standards for enabling UAS to generate a secure,
digitally encrypted communications network—for protecting
classified data and improving waveform performance in jamming
environments—via the embedded DDL waveform. They will also create a
standardized communications architecture that will allow UAS to
access spectrum quickly and easily, especially when operating in
contested environments.
"Viasat's robust military-grade cryptography and electronic
countermeasure tactical waveform design will enable quick expansion
of secure communications to a variety of small unmanned systems
operating at the tactical edge," said Ken
Peterman, president, Government Systems, Viasat. "By
collaborating with AeroVironment, an established leader in the
tactical UAS sector, we can help the U.S. Army set new waveform
standards that maximize connectivity and minimize the risk of
signal intercept."
Currently, tens of thousands of AeroVironment tactical unmanned
aircraft are deployed around the world and are capable of serving
as secure, digital network communication nodes for on-demand, mesh
network applications in various operating environments.
"As U.S. forces plan for the potential of operating against peer
and near-peer military adversaries possessing advanced electronic
warfare capabilities, the need for even more secure communication
capabilities is rapidly increasing," said Scott Newbern, AeroVironment chief technology
officer. "We will work with Viasat to provide customers requiring
enhanced, secure communication capabilities with a portable,
practical solution for maintaining secure communications via
tactical unmanned aircraft systems operating at the battlefield's
edge."
About AeroVironment, Inc.
AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV)
provides technology solutions at the intersection of robotics,
sensors, software analytics and connectivity that deliver more
actionable intelligence so you can proceed with certainty.
Celebrating 50 years of innovation, AeroVironment is a global
leader in unmanned aircraft systems and tactical missile systems,
and serves defense, government and commercial customers. For more
information, visit www.avinc.com.
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, the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward looking statements include statements that refer to
the collaboration between Viasat and AeroVironment; the development
and demonstration of a prototype and standards for the DDL
waveform, and the benefits afforded thereby. Readers are cautioned
that actual results could differ materially and adversely from
those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that
could cause actual results to differ include: product defects,
manufacturing issues or delays, contractual problems, regulatory
issues, technologies not being developed according to anticipated
schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations; and
increased competition and other factors affecting the government
and defense sectors generally. In addition, please refer to the
risk factors contained in AeroVironment
and 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, and
AeroVironment'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 and
AeroVironment undertake no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements for any reason.
Copyright © 2020 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.