Airbus delivers a C295 MSA to the Irish Air Corps, equipped with a Viasat satcom solution. Photo: © Airbus Defence and Space SAU 2023 Sergio Flores Mango Producciones

Viasat and Airbus equipped two Irish Defence Forces C295 MSA aircraft with a Viasat terminal for managed satcom service, the companies announced this week. Airbus delivered the C295 MSA multirole surveillance aircraft earlier this year. 

The aircraft were delivered to the Irish Air Corps (IAC), a division of the Irish Defence Forces focused on the Military Air Defence of Ireland airspace and supporting United Nations peacekeeping operations. The Airbus C295 MSA with the fully integrated terminal was showcased earlier this year at the Paris Air Show before it was delivered to the Irish Defence Forces. 

The aircraft are equipped with Viasat’s GAT-5530 terminal, which supports Ku- and Ka-bands, including 3.5GHz of commercial and military Ka-band. They are now equipped with Viasat broadband satcom service, which will support a range of command, control and communication (C3) mission needs from tactical transport of troops and supplies to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). 

Viasat has a contract with the IAC to provide a managed satcom service across multiple aircraft which includes the C295 MSA’s and a small fleet of PC-12 special mission aircraft. 

“By combining our expertise with Airbus, we aim to enhance the operational capability, flexibility, and reliability of aircraft communications systems for military users. Our focus is on delivering secure, resilient, and scalable broadband satcom connectivity that is crucial for modern mission success,” commented Victor Farah, vice president of Viasat Government Systems.