France: Airbus Defence and Space and Inmarsat have signed an agreement covering high-throughput airborne Global Xpress (GX) terminals, confirming Airbus Defense and Space’s leading airborne satcom expertise.
The latest agreement unleashes high throughput satcom options for comms-on-the-move ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) operations for aircraft – in particular helicopters – as well as for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) domain. Military and other government customers will now have access to Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band service through Airbus Defence and Space’s airborne portfolio. Global Xpress is set to be the world’s first globally available commercial high-speed broadband service delivered via a Ka-band satellite network.
“Combining the unique Global Xpress service with Airbus Defence and Space’s proven heritage in airborne satcom heralds a new era of operational flexibility. The ability to deploy anywhere, at no notice, with high speed internet quality links will drive massive improvements in capability and cost effectiveness,” said Andy Start, President, Inmarsat Global Government. The agreement further reinforces the relationship between Airbus Defence and Space and Inmarsat Global Government. Following on the strategic GX distribution partnership agreement concluded in December 2013, this extends future commercial Ka-band service options within Airbus Defence and Space’s AuroraGlobal portfolio.
Source: Airbus and Defence
