CARLSBAD, Calif., Sept. 11, 2024 – Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced that it successfully supported the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) Air Mobility Command (AMC) and Air Combat Command (ACC) during exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-3 (BE 24-3). Following Viasat’s participation in the Mobility Guardian 2023 (MG23) exercise, this second iteration of Bamboo Eagle, based out of Nellis Air Force Base, took place at various locations across the United States and eastern Pacific Ocean from July 29 to August 10, 2024.
Like Bamboo Eagle 24-1, the BE 24-3 exercise included thousands of U.S. service members, as well as international allies and partners, and builds on the fundamentals practiced during MG23.
For the exercise, Viasat provided resilient and interoperable airborne communications through its C-130 Hercules Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) hatch terminal and Move Out/Jump Off (MOJO) Next (MOJO Next) tactical gateway to crosslink incompatible networks and provide both command and control (C2) and situational awareness (SA) – all without requiring modification to the aircraft. Together, the BLOS hatch and MOJO Next provided a 360-degree view of the battlespace allowing AMC and ACC C-130J aircraft to exchange SA data with other Link-16 or Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL)-enabled platforms. This integration helps extends the common operational picture (COP) to all assets through the BLOS hatch terminal, from the tactical edge to the Air Operations Center (AOC), and allows operations specialists to command and control the mission more effectively.
Viasat’s C-130 Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) high-throughput G-18 Ka-band antenna hatch terminal (GAT-5518HM) was designed to operate across the full ITU Ka-band spectrum and all polarizations without user intervention required. These features enable the terminal to automatically roam across orbits and networks providing Automated Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency (APACE) capability with no user in the loop. The MOJO Next RORO interoperable tactical gateway was designed for operations in remote locations where network extensions are needed to execute the mission and connect incompatible networks and messages into clear communications. The gateway translates tactical data networks and supports a COP by relaying aircraft data in near real-time.
During the BE 24-3 exercise, Viasat’s C-130 hatch terminal and MOJO Next were moved between aircraft, installed, and operational in under one hour. The C-130J aircraft participated as red force aircraft, and ACC was able to develop tactics, techniques, and procedure (TTPs) with MAF for non-traditional tactical C2 (TAC C2), with mission critical applications operated by the Airborne Mission System Specialist. The interoperable tactical gateway with integrated Link-16 and SADL capability, coupled with the high-throughput BLOS C-130 hatch terminal, allowed the C-130Js to share real-time data with the Shadow Operations Center-Nellis (ShOC-N) and extend the COP for all participants.
“Viasat’s integrated capability enables MAF aircraft to function as high-throughput communication hubs, providing tactical command and control, situational awareness, and extending the common operational picture across the battlespace. This technology also facilitates connectivity between joint and coalition partners on different Tactical Datalinks (TDL),” said Victor Farah, Senior Vice President of Government Services and Solutions at Viasat. “Once linked, aircraft can adapt to mission changes in real-time during flight, enabling them to quickly identify and capitalize on opportunities to deploy, sustain, and maneuver the Joint Force, even in environments where information access is contested, degraded, or denied. Our flexible terminal and gateway technology, which can be rapidly installed without aircraft modifications, supports AMC’s initiative to equip 25 percent of the MAF fleet with next-generation, resilient connectivity by 2025 ('25 by 25'). This enhancement will provide increased maneuverability for airborne missions, ensuring operations are supported when and where needed.”
Commenting on the first iteration of Bamboo Eagle earlier this year, Gen. Mike Minihan, AMC Commander, said, “Connectivity investments will increase the survivability, agility, resiliency, and lethality of AMC warfighting capabilities.”
Visit Viasat’s website for more information about our MOJO tactical gateway solutions.
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About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people’s lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X or YouTube.
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Viasat, Inc. Contacts
Dan Bleier, Public Relations, Viasat Government, +1 (202) 383-5074, daniel.bleier@viasat.com
Lisa Curran/Peter Lopez, Investor Relations, IR@viasat.com
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, among others, statements that refer to the features, performance and benefits of the GAT-5518HM C-130 hatch terminal and MOJO Next tactical gateway. 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 the construction, launch and operation of satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; changes in relationships with, or the financial condition of, key customers or suppliers; our reliance on a limited number of third parties to manufacture and supply our products; increased competition; and introduction of new technologies and other factors affecting the communications and defense industries generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in our SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including our 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. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.