Viasat, a leading global provider of satellite communications, has expanded its partnership with Airbus Defence and Space. The collaboration focuses on equipping the Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) recently acquired by the Spanish Ministry of Defence with Viasat’s advanced Ku- and Ka-band airborne technology.
The heart of this enhancement is the integration of Viasat’s GAT-5530 dual-band broadband terminal into the Spanish C295 MPA fleet. This integration introduces a robust and flexible broadband SATCOM capability, relying on SpainSat NG satellites to ensure secure and reliable connectivity. This enhanced communication infrastructure will significantly bolster the aircraft’s command and control (C2) functionalities, as well as its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) applications. These capabilities are crucial for fulfilling the demands of sovereign national security missions.
“We are excited to expand our work with Airbus to support the Spanish Ministry of Defence with our highly flexible, multi-band terminal on the C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Our connectivity solutions are designed to support modern military operation requirements with advanced, secure and resilient satellite communications. This includes enabling seamless roaming between sovereign and commercial networks to provide superior resilience beyond the capabilities of traditional single-band or single-network access solutions,” said Victor Farah, Senior Vice President, Viasat Government. “This selection by the Spanish MoD underscores the trust and confidence in our ability to deliver enhanced mission connectivity solutions and to help global government customers significantly improve reliability and continuity across a range of operational environments.”
The Airbus C295, a highly dependable tactical airlifter, is known for its versatility and ability to adapt to diverse roles and missions. Currently serving 37 nations globally and achieving 300 orders earlier this year, the C295 is a proven platform for various operational requirements.
The GAT-5530, a key element in this collaboration, supports comprehensive ITU Ku- and Ka-bands, spanning 3.5GHz of both commercial and military Ka-band frequencies. This adaptable terminal provides substantial operational flexibility to the Spanish Ministry of Defense and other military clients seeking to enhance resilience through multi-frequency (Ku/Mil-Ka/Commercial-Ka), multi-orbit (GEO, MEO, HEO), and multi-network communication architectures.
