ViaSat
Inc. announced that its VR-12 Ka-band satellite antenna system has qualified
for FAA and international regulations covering electrical and
electronic equipment installed on commercial aircraft. The ViaSat
product has recently completed industry standard DO-160G testing; the
first batch of the newly-certified production units will be available
for shipping in a few weeks.
The
DO-160G standard applies to every aircraft ever built. This includes
general aviation and business jets, helicopters, commercial jets, and
modified civilian aircraft operated by the government. The standard
test covers altitude, dust and sand, lightning and electrostatic
discharge, power input, RF susceptibility, temperature, vibration,
requirements, and other relevant criteria.
When
partnered up with a ViaSat mobile satellite modem, the VR-12 Ka
antenna system can deliver Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) airborne
satellite communications. Its very high data rate is suited for
military intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)
applications that use both commercial and military Ka-band
frequencies and require intensive bandwidth.
On
previous flight tests, VR-12 Ka successfully tested satellite Internet (achieving upwards of 10 Mbps of aircraft-to-satellite
transmission rates,) simultaneous transmission of HD video, video
teleconferencing, and VoIP applications.
The
VR-12 Ka succeeds the VR-12 Ku band satellite antenna. The older
ViaSat system serves aboard more than 300 government aircraft and has
accumulated more than half a million mission hours.
ViaSat
has learned from its customers that a simple flight line maintenance
action can quickly swap antennas in order to adapt the aircraft BLOS
communications capabilities. To this end, the Company ensured that
the VR-12 Ka system is a form and fit interchange with the older
Ku-band system.
The
VR-12 Ka-band satellite antenna can be installed aboard Gulfstream,
King Air, Pilatus, C-130, and other aircraft. The ViaSat systems will
be able to operate in Ka-band overlay regions covered by the
Company's growing worldwide mobile satellite communications network.
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