ViaSat to develop military satellite system

ViaSat Inc. will develop and implement a new military satellite communications waveform to improve existing UHF satellite systems under a $3.7 million contract awarded by the Defense Information System Agency.

ViaSat will develop a UHF satellite communications waveform called the Integrated Waveform that will prolong the life of existing satellite systems by enabling them to support new applications and higher performance.

DISA revised the military specifications for UHF Satcom to match the need for faster, more efficient and easier-to use communications.

Until new transformational satellite systems become operational, the Defense Department will continue to rely on the UHF system for tactical military communications. The new waveform design will allow higher quality voice communications, more than double the number of networks per channel and improve data throughput, according to ViaSat.

ViaSat's headquarters is in Carlsbad, Calif.