U.S. Space Force Awards Viasat Contract for Proliferated Low Earth Orbit Satellite Services

Rhea-AI Summary

Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) announces Inmarsat Government's $900 million PLEO Satellite-Based Services contract with the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency, emphasizing the importance of resilient constellations and leveraging small satellite technology for global coverage and reduced latency.

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• Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) secures a $900 million contract, showcasing its ability to provide comprehensive managed end-to-end SATCOM solutions for government customers.
• The contract emphasizes the importance of resilient constellations, diversifying orbits, and leveraging small satellite technology to provide persistent, global coverage with reduced transmission latency.

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CARLSBAD., Calif., Sept. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced that Inmarsat Government, now part of Viasat, was awarded a Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) Satellite-Based Services (SBS) contract by the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) on behalf of the U.S. Space Force's (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC). Inmarsat Government is one of 16 companies selected for the $900 million ceiling, 10-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

As the United States and its mission partners become increasingly reliant on space-based capabilities for national security, it is critical to have resilient constellations that include satellites in geostationary (GEO) and non-geostationary orbits (NGSO). Proliferated LEO (pLEO) constellations are part of a Department of Defense (DoD) strategy to provide additional resilience for satellite communications (SATCOM), remote sensing and other capabilities by diversifying orbits.

Under this contract, Viasat plans to leverage small satellite technology, reduced costs and increased launch service competition, facilitating the ability for pLEO constellations to provide persistent, global coverage with reduced transmission latency. The company will provide a suite of fully-managed pLEO satellite-based services and capabilities, to include space relay services, supplemented by GEO and NGSO satellites, supporting all domains – space, air, land, maritime and cyber.

Viasat will aim to achieve this with a reliable, resilient low latency global pLEO offering that flexibly supports the needs of combatant commands, defense agencies, other federal government organizations and international coalition partners. It will provide a comprehensive managed end-to-end SATCOM solution via a multi-band, multi-orbit constellation of satellites. Furthermore, its new, hyper-intelligent software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) is designed to orchestrate and provide priority routing across mixed networks, enabling an automated primary, alternate, contingency and emergency (PACE) solution to deliver the flexibility and responsiveness required to meet customers' needs today and in the future.

"Viasat has a proud history of providing integrated SATCOM solutions and service offerings across multiple bands and orbits to support government customers' unique needs," said Susan Miller, President, Viasat Government. "Our team is committed to developing innovative, mission-focused solutions through our existing partnerships with satellite operators and extending opportunities with new partners. We eagerly look forward to using both our technologies and deep problem solving expertise to deliver resilient, robust and secure SATCOM capabilities to service members around the world."

As a leading satellite network integrator, Viasat has worked with trusted satellite owners/operators to provide the bandwidth government customers require at a cost-effective price point.

About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. On May 30, 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.

Copyright © 2023 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat, the Viasat logo and the Viasat signal are registered trademarks of Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements that refer to the features, expected benefits and performance of the pLEO satellite services; and the amount of future awards made to Inmarsat Government under the IDIQ contract.  Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of satellites, including the effect of any anomaly, operational failure or degradation in satellite performance; our ability to successfully develop, introduce and sell new technologies, products and services; audits by the U.S. Government; changes in the global business environment and economic conditions; delays in approving U.S. Government budgets and cuts in government defense expenditures; our reliance on U.S. Government contracts, and on a small number of contracts which account for a significant percentage of our revenues; changes in relationships with, or the financial condition of, key customers or suppliers; our reliance on a limited number of third parties to manufacture and supply our products; increased competition; introduction of new technologies and other factors affecting the communications and defense industries generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in our SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-space-force-awards-viasat-contract-for-proliferated-low-earth-orbit-satellite-services-301918553.html

SOURCE Viasat, Inc.

FAQ

What contract was awarded to Inmarsat Government, now part of Viasat, by the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency on behalf of the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command?

Inmarsat Government, now part of Viasat, was awarded a Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) Satellite-Based Services (SBS) contract by the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency on behalf of the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command.

What is the value and duration of the contract?

The contract has a $900 million ceiling and is a 10-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

What is the focus of the contract?

The contract focuses on leveraging small satellite technology, reduced costs, and increased launch service competition to provide persistent, global coverage with reduced transmission latency.

What are the key capabilities Viasat plans to provide under this contract?

Viasat plans to provide a suite of fully-managed pLEO satellite-based services and capabilities, including space relay services, supplemented by GEO and NGSO satellites, supporting all domains – space, air, land, maritime, and cyber.

What is Viasat's goal with the new, hyper-intelligent software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN)?

Viasat aims to orchestrate and provide priority routing across mixed networks, enabling an automated primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency (PACE) solution to deliver the flexibility and responsiveness required to meet customers' needs today and in the future.