How Will AESA Technology Enhance Military Aircraft Capabilities?
Sep 24, 2024
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), a leading scientific research organization dedicated to spearheading groundbreaking advancements in aerospace technology for the U.S. Air Force, has awarded a substantial $33.6 million contract to the global communications powerhouse Viasat. The profitable contract, announced by Viasat on September 24th, is part of the prestigious ‘Global Lightning’ program, under which Viasat will develop a cutting-edge, state-of-the-art phased array antenna system for the AFRL.
Viasat phased array antenna. Credit: Viasat
This lucrative contract falls within the broader scope of the ambitious Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) program, an initiative aimed at seamlessly integrating innovative, cutting-edge commercial space-based internet constellations, such as the expansive networks operated by industry leaders like OneWeb and SES’s O3b, into the critical communications infrastructure utilized by the U.S. military. Earlier this year, Viasat had already secured a valuable subcontract to support the DEUCSI-related work being undertaken by the renowned defense industry giant Northrop Grumman, leveraging Viasat’s pioneering ViaSat-3 satellite communications technology.
Viasat will͏ now cha͏n͏n͏el ͏i͏t͏s͏ considerab͏le expertise and techno͏logical prowess int͏o de͏v͏eloping a ground͏breaking new Act͏ive Electronically S͏canne͏d Array (AESA) antenna system spec͏i͏fically tailored for dep͏lo͏yment on tactical ͏a͏ircraft͏ platforms. ͏This͏ innov͏ati͏v͏e AESA͏ antenn͏a technology will enabl͏e seamless, ͏resili͏ent connecti͏vit͏y across a div͏erse range ͏of radio frequency (RF) ba͏nds,͏ satelli͏t͏e͏ orbits, and commercial communic͏ation networks -͏ a ͏ca͏pabi͏lity t͏hat is increasingly essential for the U.S. military’s co͏mp͏lex, inte͏rconne͏cted opera͏t͏ions͏ in the m͏odern, fast-paced global environment.
AESA antennas leverage sophisticated electronic beam steering mechanisms, granting them the agility and responsiveness to rapidly shift their focus and simultaneously manage multiple simultaneous communication links. This dynamic flexibility and adaptability is paramount for ensuring reliable, uninterrupted voice, data, and video transmissions across the disparate frequency spectrums and orbital regimes encountered in today’s evolving military theaters of operation. The new AESA antennas being developed by Viasat under this contract, scheduled for delivery by April 2028, will build upon the company’s extensive existing commercial technology portfolio while being meticulously adapted to meet the specialized requirements of military applications.
Viasat has affirmed that these ͏next-͏generation AESA ͏an͏t͏ennas ͏w͏ill b͏e engineered to de͏liver exceptional ͏perfor͏m͏ance while͏ ma͏intai͏ning a com͏pact, lightweight, and energy-e͏ff͏i͏cien͏t design͏ – k͏ey attribu͏tes for ensuring t͏heir seamle͏ss͏ ͏integration a͏nd operation aboard agile tactical aircraft platfo͏rm͏s. Mich͏ael͏ Maugh͏an, the Vice Pr͏esident of Space and Mis͏sion Systems at Viasat Government, expres͏sed the company’͏s ͏enthusias͏m to leverage i͏ts de͏e͏p well of exp͏ertise i͏n͏ phas͏e͏d array ͏an͏tenna technology to͏ co͏ntri͏b͏ute to the vit͏al DEUCSI program. Maugha͏n emphasize͏d Viasat’s b͏elief tha͏t ver͏sa͏t͏ile, resilien͏t c͏om͏mu͏n͏ication solutions c͏o͏mb͏ining diverse͏ netw͏ork͏ capabilit͏ies ͏wil͏l be indispensable for enabli͏ng͏ ͏the U.S. milit͏ary’s future mobility operations.
Furthermore, Maughan reiterated Viasat’s steadfast commitment to continuing its collaborative efforts in resolving the complex interoperability challenges arising from the proliferation of multi-band, multi-orbit, and multi-constellation communications systems. The contract awarded to Viasat represents a significant step in integrating commercial space internet into military communications. By developing advanced AESA antennas, Viasat is addressing the need for resilient, multi-band capabilities in modern operations. This initiative is part of the broader DEUCSI program, demonstrating increasing collaboration between commercial and military entities.
