An RQ 4 Global Hawk. Photo: Wikipedia

[Via Satellite 06-25-2014] The Malibu, Fla. division of Communications and Power Industries (CPI) was selected by an international defense technologies company to provide airborne data links for the RQ 4 Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The company will also provide dual-axis Ku-band high-gain data links for the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) version of the Global Hawk.

The Global Hawk UAS uses a satellite data link to send data and images to ground-based mission control, allowing commanders to access near real-time Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) information.

CPI Malibu Division provides both single and dual-axis airborne, high-precision auto-tracking ground data terminals and satellite/line-of-sight (LOS) shipboard communications systems to support various UAS platforms. The company’s advanced AT 23 dual-axis data link antennas can operate at very low temperatures and are a key part of the Global Hawk’s ISR system, helping improve situational awareness in a battle space.