Canadian Department of National Defence Upgrading Airborne ISR with ViaSat Mobile Satellite System

Feb. 26, 2015

The Canadian Department of National Defence is upgrading its Lockheed CP-140 Aurora aircraft with advanced airborne satellite communication systems from ViaSat Inc. in cooperation with L-3 Electronic System Services (ESS), a division of L-3 Aviation Products. The collaboration on this Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) program between the three parties, as well as Canadian aircraft integrator IMP Aerospace, delivered the first system from project start to first flight in less than 90 days. Integration and testing of the remaining fleet is scheduled to follow soon.

The in-flight communication systems enable secure, high-speed data streaming from the aircraft via satellite on the ViaSat global network.

"We're able to meet this kind of urgent timeline because of the global reach of our ViaSat network and the maturity and reliability of our VR-12 mobile satellite system," said John Hoffman, senior director for ViaSat ISR broadband. "We had to make a number of modifications for the Aurora aircraft integration, but to serve this market our team is built for rapid response."

With the new system the Canadian DND gains improved ability to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations that can support Canadian military requirements worldwide. Over 600 ViaSat VR-12 systems are installed and in operation on commercial and government aircraft.