The global communications company, Viasat Inc., announced the availability of its Ka-band Global Aero Terminal (GAT-5518) to provide in-flight connectivity (IFC) services to government and business aviation aircraft.
The compact terminal is capable of supporting high-bandwidth applications such as advanced video streaming services and will be aimed at a wide range of aircrafts, from government-focused Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to VIP business and corporate jets.
“We’re focused on delivering advanced antenna systems that meet in-flight connectivity requirements across multiple airframe and end-user types,” said Kent Leka, general manager, Antenna Systems at Viasat.
“In designing and developing new aero terminals we take into consideration the broad user base and application sets to ensure the terminal’s viability across various markets. We’re confident the compact GAT-5518 will provide broader operational flexibility to enhanced reliability and resiliency to meet the diverse needs of business and military users.”
The GAT-5518 terminal completed the rigorous Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) D0-160G certification process, which confirms the terminal’s ability to provide reliable IFC services across the full International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Ka-band spectrum.
The terminal is made up of a two-axis steerable, two-way Ka-band antenna with an integrated antenna control unit (ACU), an antenna power supply unit and a modem. The GAT-5518’s antenna can be tail, fuselage or hatch-mounted.