Global Xpress beyond-line-of-sight connectivity product

Global Xpress is a Ka-band satellite communications service from Viasat (Inmarsat) that gives beyond-line-of-sight links to manned and unmanned aircraft. It is a worldwide wideband network built for mobile government users and airborne operations, where an aircraft or a large uncrewed system needs a data path far beyond the range of any direct radio link.

The network uses a fleet of Ka-band satellites, and steerable beams allow capacity to be directed to where it is needed. Viasat describes Ka-band as well suited to consistent coverage along heavily travelled air routes. The Global Xpress service is backed up by SwiftBroadband L-band service over the I-4 satellite constellation, which keeps a connection available across the globe when the Ka-band path is unavailable. Ground infrastructure is redundant, with terrestrial links designed to support government communications.

The service is delivered to terminals on the aircraft, and the maker lists smaller, easy-to-use terminals among the benefits. Throughput and coverage depend on the terminal and the airtime package selected. The brochure lists related airtime services for uncrewed aircraft, including Uncrewed Air, G2X Air and G2X Air Plus, which provide higher return-link rates within a defined region and a global plan outside it. Mobile roaming between beams is listed as a benefit.

On security, Global Xpress commercial services and infrastructure are built to U.S. DoD 8500 Mission Assurance Category III and NIST 800-53 Low Assurance standards, supported by a dedicated cyber security team. The secure enclave and network can be built to higher security requirements. The service is interoperable with government military Ka-band systems and complements the Wideband Global Satcom system as a leased Ka-band capability.

The applications listed by the maker include airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for manned and unmanned aircraft, live full-motion video, command and control, operational theatre backhaul, tactical communications, situational awareness, video teleconferencing, IP multicast, disaster recovery and emergency response.