Telecom Lead America: Selex Elsag has selected ViaSat to
provide X-band antennas and the MD-1366 Enhanced Bandwidth Efficient Modem
(EBEM) to expand NATO static ground satellite communications in Belgium and
Italy, and upgrade services in Greece and Turkey.
ViaSat technology is designed to provide the Selex and
NATO Satellite Ground Station (SGS) project with multicarrier-capable antennas
and a secure, bandwidth efficient, open standard system to ensure coalition
interoperability.
The value of the contract is in excess of $10 million.
The order is for multiple 16-meter and 11.3-meter X-band earth stations, ViaSat
MD-1366 modems, and services. The new terminals are scheduled to be installed
and commissioned at NATO European sites with delivery starting by end of
calendar 2012.
The MD-1366 EBEM replaces legacy, FDMA modems and ensures
future interoperability with joint, allied, and coalition forces, a key
objective of the U.S. Army WIN-T program and other NATO nation partners.
ViaSat claims that the MD-1366 is the industry’s only
DSCS and WGS certified, fully STANAG 4486 ed.3 compliant modem. The modem
eliminates the need for a separate Inline Network Encryptor (INE) with FIPS
140-2 Level 2 certified AES-256 bulk encryption.