ViaSat to provide USAF 89th Airlift Wing fleet with in-flight internet service

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World Aviation Defense & Security Industry News - ViaSat
 
 
ViaSat to provide USAF 89th Airlift Wing fleet with in-flight internet service
 
The United States Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) awarded ViaSat Inc., a global broadband services and technology company, a non-competitive, firm-fixed-price contract to provide senior leaders and their support staff with global in-flight broadband and communications services. The award covers support for VC-25s, C-17s, C-32s, C-37s, C-40s and the complete range of VIP and special air mission aircraft.
     
ViaSat to provide USAF 89th Airlift Wing fleet with in flight internet service 640 001Air Force One departs Joint Base Andrews, Md., March 20, 2016, to transport President Barack Obama to Cuba
(USAF/Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Wallace)
     
The ViaSat in-flight internet service has been recognized industry-wide for delivering high-quality, reliable and fast in-flight internet service. As noted by ViaSat, the service enables "a Situation Room in the Sky" experience - with the ability to use the in-flight broadband connection to stream full-motion high-definition video for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), en-route Command and Control (C2) and Search and Rescue (S&R) missions; maintain two-way communications through HD video conference calling or voice over internet protocol calls; access real-time intelligence and other location-based, live-sensor data for critical decision-making and more.

"ViaSat's high-capacity global in-flight internet service ensures executive and government leaders and their teams can stay connected, informed and productive, maximizing the effectiveness of time in-flight with 'Situation Room and Command Center' connectivity in the sky," said Ken Peterman, senior vice president and general manager, Government Systems Division, ViaSat. "This award is a significant accomplishment and we are proud to be delivering remarkably fast data speeds and an abundance of capacity to support the in-flight communications needs of our government's senior leadership on Air Force One and other special air mission aircraft."

ViaSat believes a key enabler to delivering this global in-flight broadband connectivity is that it offers a field-proven, certified, hybrid Ku-/Ka-band system, which will keep government aircraft connected to ViaSat's best available satellite network. The hybrid terminal and radome enables automatic in-flight network switching across Ku- and Ka-band satellite networks for an advanced "global roaming capability."