US: The Malibu Division of Communications & Power Industries LLC (CPI) has been selected by an international defense technologies company to provide airborne data links for the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS). CPI Malibu Division is providing dual-axis Ku-band high-gain airborne data links for the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) version of the Global Hawk. Intended to operate autonomously, the high-altitude, long-endurance Global Hawk uses a satellite data link to transmit data and images between the UAS and the ground-based mission control, enabling military commanders to gather near real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) information. CPI Malibu Division's advanced data link antennas are an integral part of Global Hawk's ISR systems, supporting situational awareness in a network-centric battle-space.
"CPI Malibu Division's AT-23 dual-axis airborne data link antennas have high-gain capabilities and can operate at extremely low temperatures, which are essential features for the unique challenges associated with the nature and mission of the RQ-4 Global Hawk. We are proud to play a role in providing critical intelligence to today's warfighters and to add the RQ-4 Global Hawk to the growing list of UAS systems that CPI Malibu Division supports,” said Steve Lonngren, president of CPI Malibu Division. CPI Malibu Division currently provides both single and dual-axis airborne, high-precision auto-tracking ground data terminals and satellite/line-of-sight (LOS) shipboard communications systems operating at Ku-band to support a number of UAS platforms.
Source: CPI
