Viasat’s Global Aero Terminal 5518. Photo: Viasat

Viasat revealed the availability of its new Ka-band Global Aero Terminal (GAT-5518) to provide In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) services on government and business aviation aircraft — from government-focused Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and fixed-wing military platforms to VIP business and corporate jets. The GAT-5518 is the latest satellite communications (SATCOM) product to join Viasat’s portfolio of Ka-band aero antenna systems.

The GAT-5518 terminal completed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) D0-160G certification process. This certification confirms the terminal’s ability to provide IFC services across the 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 Orbit (GEO) satellite systems; and across multiple network and ground infrastructures. The terminal is also expected to be forward-compatible, enabling it to leverage current and future Viasat satellite systems, as well as operate over third party satellite networks.

The terminal is made up of a two-axis steerable, two-way Ka-band antenna with an integrated antenna control unit (ACU), an antenna power supply unit and a modem. The GAT-5518’s antenna can be tail, fuselage or hatch-mounted.