Sponsored By Viasat
www.viasat.com/gov-uk
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28 Dec 23. USAF Awards Viasat Up To $900m Multi-Vendor Technology Integration and Architecture Contract.
- Viasat is one of several contractors awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract to develop new systems and capabilities for USAF
Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced it will work with the U.S. Air Force’s Life Cycle Management Center (USAF LCMC) to transition and integrate new innovative technologies and capabilities as part of a $900m ceiling, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.
Under the multi-award contract – known by its initialism LCMC XA IDIQ – Viasat is expected to prototype and test systems, hardware, software, and cybersecurity solutions to provide integrated, multi-domain capabilities for the USAF. Viasat experts will accelerate and expand technology integration across the Air Force. The contract has an approximate five-year term, with options for up to an additional five years.
Today, the USAF is developing new systems, software and hardware rapidly as it keeps pace with industry innovation. The architecture and integration directorate – AFLCMC/XA – works with industry contractors like Viasat to transition those technologies ever-faster to operational forces. The contract was set up to allow the USAF to quickly access a wide range of industry solutions and make integrated technology available to its personnel more quickly.
Viasat has been selected for each of the three categories under the contract: ‘Development Planning’ will define the rapid transition of technology from lab to operational use; ‘Systems Development’ will see emerging systems, hardware and software incorporated into existing platforms and tested in operational environments; while ‘Synthetic Environment Development’ will allow the directorate to build advanced models and simulations based on real-life scenarios (digital twins) to perform operational assessments.
Viasat brings over 35 years of satellite, networking, cybersecurity innovation and execution for the Department of Defense, including its ongoing work with the USAF fleet and a range of other space development programs. The award will see Viasat offer its entire range of resilient communications capabilities, including commercially proven satellite services from its Ka-band, S-band, and L-band networks.
“Resilient communications and communications security are critical for military operations, and the USAF has been clear they need to move technology from development to at-scale operational use quicker than ever,” said Susan Miller, President of Viasat Government. “This award provides the means to work directly with the Air Force research, development and operational communities to transition a huge range of developments, which can all ultimately help deliver mission success.”
The contract is one of the first major DoD IDIQ contracts awarded to Viasat since its acquisition of Inmarsat in May 2023, which significantly expanded the company’s scale and scope. The combined company now operates a fleet of 18 satellites in space, with an additional 10 satellites under development. (Source: ASD Network)
04 Jan 24. Maxar Space Systems, a leading provider of comprehensive space technologies, today announced that the Ovzon 3 satellite is performing as expected after launch. Maxar Space Systems manufactured the satellite for Ovzon at their Palo Alto, California, facility using its modular architecture platform. The satellite launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Jan 3, 2024.
Maxar Space Systems designed and manufactured this specialized satellite for Ovzon, a Swedish-based SATCOM as-a-Service provider dedicated to offering world-leading mobile satellite communications services, to customers across the globe. Ovzon 3 is Maxar’s first use of their new all electric Modular Architecture Platform (MAP), which allows for parallel processing of separate modules to improve production efficiencies.
“Our first satellite with Ovzon highlights Maxar Space’s ability to help our customers meet their global satellite and business communications needs,” said Chris Johnson, Maxar Space Systems Chief Executive Officer. “Maxar partnered with Ovzon throughout this process to ensure this satellite can deliver on their long-term business goals, and are proud to have been selected to help Ovzon fulfill its strategy to revolutionize mobile broadband by satellite.”
Ovzon aligned with Maxar Space Systems on its first customized satellite and selected the modular platform, which leverages Maxar Space’s proven technology and performance combined with a lower-cost factor. In addition, Ovzon 3 will include Maxar Space Systems’ first flight of Roll-Out Solar Arrays (ROSAs). (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
03 Jan 24. Germany Launches Final SARah Radar Observation Satellites. The last two of a total of three satellites were launched into space from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, US United States, on December 24, 2023. These two reflector satellites complete the SARah reconnaissance system.
The satellites have a lifespan of ten years guaranteed by the manufacturers – partly due to the conditions in space.
The new system is significantly more powerful than its predecessor, the SARSynthetic Aperture Radar-Lupe satellite reconnaissance system, and requires three satellites. The SARSynthetic Aperture Radar-Lupe system includes five reflector satellites that are smaller than the SARah satellites.
Germany is one of the leading nations in the field of radar satellites.
“Another step” towards improved education
To enable a smooth launch, the two satellites were transported from Ramstein Air Base in Rhineland-Palatinate to California in mid-November – with the help of a US United States Air Force transport aircraft. A series of final tests was then necessary, which both satellites passed without any restrictions. This review is part of the launch campaign. The highlight is the “go” for the start.
“With today’s launch we are not only completing the SARah constellation. This milestone is a further step towards offering the force an improved, global, time-of-day and weather-independent reconnaissance capability in the future,” said the project manager from the Koblenz Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the Bundeswehr. The next goal is full operational operation next year.
System startup can now begin
After the launch, the so-called “launch and early orbit phase” begins. In this phase, the systems and components are switched on one after the other and checked for functionality. These checks are necessary to ensure proper operation. In addition, protective locks are canceled, any malfunctions are eliminated and the payload is calibrated.
The name SARah is a play on words, consisting of the abbreviation for Synthetic Aperture Radar – an imaging radar method – and the appended “ah”. In addition to the two reflector satellites, the SARah system consists of a ground segment that is connected to two ground stations and a phased array satellite that was launched into orbit in June 2022. The three satellites each work independently of one another. By combining the two technologies, the performance of the entire system is optimized. For radar-based military reconnaissance, functionality independent of the time of day and weather is fundamental. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Bundeswher; issued Dec 24, 2023)
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At Viasat, we’re driven to connect every warfighter, platform, and node on the battlefield. As a global communications company, we power ms of fast, resilient connections for military forces around the world – connections that have the capacity to revolutionize the mission – in the air, on the ground, and at sea. Our customers depend on us for connectivity that brings greater operational capabilities, whether we’re securing the U.S. Government’s networks, delivering satellite and wireless communications to the remote edges of the battlefield, or providing senior leaders with the ability to perform mission-critical communications while in flight. We’re a team of fearless innovators, driven to redefine what’s possible. And we’re not done – we’re just beginning.
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