Satellite and terrestrial network operator Intelsat has secured a contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. Under this agreement, Intelsat will create and evaluate satellite communication systems for various Air Force aircraft.
The deal is part of the Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet program to address the government’s need for resilient communications for aircraft, using multi-band, multi-orbit implementations that can seamlessly be switched between orbits at a moment’s notice.
“Intelsat’s offering is unique because we have a virtualized network. This allows for quick integration, increased resiliency and protection which is essential in contested operations,” said Intelsat President of Government Solutions David Broadbent. “This virtual network can be changed on the fly and works with new equipment as well as legacy systems allowing the user to make critical changes based on mission needs.”
Intelsat’s Resilient multi-Orbit Airborne Module (Intelsat ROAM) platform will be used for this mission. Intelsat ROAM will be integrated on aircraft selected by AFRL, using different bands and constellations in multiple orbits to enable mission success and ease of use for operators without major hardware configuration changes.
The contract, valued at $9 million, will last one year.