Aireon has awarded a $42 million contract to ITT Exelis to provide the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data processing and distribution component for Aireon’s global space-based air traffic surveillance system.

     Aireon, a joint venture between Iridium Communications and Nav Canada  will take advantage of the hosted payload space on Iridium NEXT – Iridium’s second-generation satellite constellation – to enable fully global and continuous space-based monitoring and control of aircraft. Exelis will design and build the data processing and distribution platform, a critical component of the Aireon system, and will operate and maintain the system for 15 years from the first launch. This contract further extends the ongoing relationship between the two companies; Exelis also provides systems engineering services for Aireon.

     Aireon’s space-based ADS-B solution will enable air traffic controllers to safely grant pilots more efficient flight levels and direct routing where ground-based surveillance infrastructure cannot be deployed cost-effectively. Air traffic surveillance will be available globally to Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), including over oceans and remote regions where such surveillance is not currently possible.