U.S. Special Forces choose Viasat for $350 million networking, comms upgrade
NewsJanuary 16, 2018
CARLSBAD, Calif. Communications provider Viasat Inc.has won an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract with the U.S. Special Operations Forces to provide advanced equipment, systems, services, and support to modernize the units' ground/air situational awareness; tactical data links; terrestrial networking; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); tactical satellite communications; information assurance; network management; and cybersecurity. The contract has an initial ceiling of $350 million.
The initial five-year contract is structured so as to allow expansion and evolution over time, which allows the units to keep up with rapid technology advancements in mobile networking, cybersecurity, and broadband satellite communications technology sectors. The flexible nature of the ID/IQ will enable Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to rapidly acquire, deploy, and adapt a wide variety of new operational capabilities, terminals, products, systems, services, and sustainment to support of current and future SOCOM missions.
Viasat officials say that the contract vehicle will help ensure that SOCOM has a modern network with tactical systems that are agile and responsive to the complex requirements of the multidomain battlespace while ensuring that deployed systems remain flexible enough to to work with today's mobile networking, information technology, cybersecurity, and broadband satellite communications.
