ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) has been selected by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) as a key partner in the delivery of a next-generation satellite communications (SATCOM) network to the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Under a program known as Joint Project 2008 Phase 5B2, a large multi-phase project to deploy an integrated wideband SATCOM system for the ADF, ViaSat will provide its proven ground stations and dual-band Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite Earth terminals. ViaSat has a long history of delivering SATCOM equipment globally, to customers in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. Most recently, ViaSat delivered a number of complete ground stations for Australia's National Broadband Network (nbn™) program. Specifically under the 5B2 Program, prime contractor Northrop Grumman will work with ViaSat to deliver a satellite ground station at Kapooka Military Area, Wagga Wagga in New South Wales and a wideband SATCOM network management system to support home station and deployed forces.
The WGS constellation is a vital military asset providing Australia, the United States, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and New Zealand with reliable and secure communications services worldwide 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The ADF's Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group awarded the contract to Northrop Grumman Australia in May of 2017.
Colin Cooper, GM, Government and Defence, ViaSat Australia, indicated that since 2012, ViaSat has been working as the prime contractor for the nbn satellite service ground system, which is a very similar system to that required by the ADF. The company has significant experience delivering large-scale satellite ground stations in remote regions of Australia with a long history of operations in Australia that also allows ViaSat to provide technical support, in-country spares and logistics, training, operations support, help desk services and maintenance over the life of the program.
