Inflight connectivity provider Viasat has a new, larger antenna now available for the business aviation market. The Ka-band Global Aero Terminal (GAT-5518) offers an 18-inch, dual axis antenna for Ka-band communications covering the company’s satellites in the Americas, Europe and Australia. The kit is future-compatible with the ViaSat-3 constellation that will provide global coverage early next decade.
“We’re focused on delivering advanced antenna systems that meet in-flight connectivity requirements across multiple airframe and end-user types. 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.
– Kent Leka, general manager, Antenna Systems at Viasat
The GAT-5518 sports a larger aperture than the GAT-5510, delivering greater efficiency in both uplink and downlink communications. The 5510 was recently certified for several jets in the BizAv segment, including the new Embraer Praetor 600 and others. It is designed for installation as a fuselage, tail or hatch-mount system.
Similar to the company’s recent announcement of its second generation Ku/Ka antenna offering for commercial aircraft, Viasat’s GAT-5518 takes advantage of development for the military and government markets to help drive its commercial offerings. Today’s news marks the launch of the GAT-5518’s availability for the commercial markets but the hardware is already in production for military customers.
Viasat notes that the kit offers support “across the full International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Ka-band spectrum, which includes commercial and Mil-Ka frequency bands; across varying polarity layouts; across multiple orbital regimes, including both medium earth orbit (MEO) and geosynchronous (GEO) satellite systems; and across multiple network and ground infrastructures.” It shipped ahead of schedule to key government and military customers prior to this morning’s announcement.
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