Viasat Debuts Mercury Expeditionary Free Space Optical Communications Terminal

Rhea-AI Summary

Viasat recently introduced its Mercury Free Space Optical Communications (FSOC) terminal at the SOCOM Technical Experimentation event on March 21, 2023. This advanced communication solution is designed for high-capacity, resilient connectivity in military operations, particularly in contested environments. The Mercury terminal boasts data rates of up to 40 Gbps and a range of 70 kilometers. It addresses U.S. Department of Defense needs for reliable, low-detection communications, leveraging commercial-off-the-shelf technology for cost-effectiveness and high performance. The system features an automated pointing and tracking mechanism, enhancing its operational capabilities for various military applications.

Positive

• Introduction of the Mercury FSOC terminal offers high-capacity and resilient communication for military operations.
• Terminal supports data rates of up to 40 Gbps and ranges of 70 kilometers.
• Cost-effective solution leveraging advanced commercial technology.
• Automated pointing and tracking system enhances operational efficiency.

Negative

• Potential risks include cybersecurity threats and technological performance issues as highlighted in forward-looking statements.

Viasat's new free space optical communication terminal is designed to deliver high-performance and resilient connectivity in contested environments

CARLSBAD, Calif., April 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, today announced that it debuted its new Mercury Free Space Optical Communications (FSOC) terminal during the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Technical Experimentation (TE) event on March 21, 2023 in Avon Park, Florida. SOCOM conducts TE events across the United States with participation from government, academia, and private industry organizations, providing a unique opportunity for technology developers to interact with the Special Operations Forces community. The new free space optics (FSO) solution was designed to support terrestrial, expeditionary applications, including SOCOM use cases.

The Viasat Mercury solution is an expeditionary, high-capacity FSOC link with an automated pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) system, offering military operators lower signature communications at the quick-halt. Mercury is based upon advanced commercial-off-the-shelf technology, leveraging substantial industry investment towards bringing a high-performance, resilient, and cost-effective capability to better support warfighting operations at the edge.

The Mercury terminal integrates state-of-the-art optical terminal technology with an industry-leading PAT gimbal and user-oriented control and management interface to offer a FSOC system that will offer substantially higher range and throughput than other solutions in the tactical environment. The Viasat FSOC solution will deliver data rates up to 40 Gigabits per second (Gbps), have a range of up to 70 Kilometers (km) for terrestrial applications, and be highly resistant to jamming, spoofing and electro-magnetic interference when compared to RF systems. By leveraging a dual-stage continuous active line-of-sight tracking system, Mercury will be deployable to support multiple expeditionary communications environments including Ground-to-Ground, Ground-to-Air, Ship-to-Ship, and Ship-to-Shore.

"We are very excited about the debut of the Mercury FSOC terminal during the SOCOM TE event and sharing the unique capability it can bring to edge communications. Free Space Optics offers the benefits of fiber optic cable communications without the need to run the cable," said Craig Miller, president of Viasat Government Systems. "As the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) seeks to gain an advantage through increasingly reliable and low detection communications, we are investing in FSO as part of a resilient multi-transport network. The Mercury terminal is designed as a high-capacity and low-cost solution for the DoD, and this is the first platform for terrestrial use as we continue to invest in comms-on-the-move capabilities across sea, air and space."

Viasat developed the Mercury terminal to address DoD requests for FSO capabilities that will enable warfighters to operate high-bandwidth links across significant distances in an LPI/LPD environment. Modern electronic warfare effects can disrupt radio frequency communications in contested near-peer environments, but FSO offers a communications pathway outside the RF spectrum.

Visit the Viasat website for more information on Viasat the Mercury terminal and FSOC solutions.

About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. For more than 35 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate. Today, the Company is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, secure, affordable, fast connections to impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea. To learn more about Viasat, visit: www.viasat.com, go to Viasat's Corporate Blog, or follow the Company on social media at: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.

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 about the capabilities, features and benefits of the Mercury Free Space Optical Communications terminal to be offered by Viasat. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: new and increasingly sophisticated cybersecurity attacks; contractual problems, product or software defects, regulatory issues, technologies that do not perform according to expectations; delays in approving U.S. government budgets and cuts in government defense expenditures; and increased competition and other factors affecting the government and defense sectors generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in Viasat's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including Viasat's 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. Viasat undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

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.

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SOURCE Viasat, Inc.

FAQ

What is the Viasat Mercury FSOC terminal?

The Viasat Mercury FSOC terminal is a high-capacity communication device designed for military use, providing resilient connectivity in contested environments.

When was the Mercury FSOC terminal debuted?

The Mercury FSOC terminal was debuted on March 21, 2023, during the SOCOM Technical Experimentation event.

What are the key features of the Mercury terminal?

Key features include data rates of up to 40 Gbps, a range of up to 70 kilometers, and an automated pointing and tracking system.

How does the Mercury terminal enhance military communications?

It offers high-bandwidth links outside the RF spectrum, providing reliable and low-detection communications for the U.S. Department of Defense.

What markets does Viasat target with the Mercury terminal?

Viasat targets military operations and government sectors with the Mercury terminal, especially for expeditionary communications.