Simplifies unmanned aerial systems transition from legacy analog ISR technology to advanced digital data links

Carlsbad, CA –  Last week at the Unmanned System Demonstration at Webster Field near Patuxent River, Maryland, the Enerdyne division of ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT) successfully received and displayed analog-transmitted NTSC video from a variety of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) using its digital EnerLinksIII Ground Modem Transceiver (GMT).  Based on a programmable radio architecture, the EnerLinksIII GMT is designed to operate with digital waveforms transmitted by aircraft using EnerLinks digital data link equipment, but by adding the Analog Mode option, the GMT can also receive analog FM video transmissions. During the Webster Field demonstration, the EnerLinks GMT captured video transmitted from unmanned aircraft such as the Insitu Scan Eagle, AAI Aerosonde MK 4.7, L-3 Mobius, Aerovironment Puma, and MUDO AeroStar, receiving transmissions in L-, S-, and C-bands. The ability to receive video from older, analog systems enables UAS suppliers to begin to upgrade to improved digital technology while still interoperating with the rest of their fleet.

“Our customer base has a significant number of systems flying with analog links. As they transition to EnerLinks digital technology, they’ll be operating a mix of both legacy and new technology. The addition of analog modes allows them to use one ground receiver for all deployed units,” said ViaSat Enerdyne division general manager Steve Gardner.

The GMT includes the ability to digitize and compress received analog video signals using H.264 compression and embeds the compressed video into an MPEG-2 transport stream for distribution over an IP network to standard exploitation systems, including the EnerView^TM viewer.

Customers who already have EnerLinksIII GMT products can upgrade them to add the EnerLinks Analog Mode, which is a simple software download to their systems. Analog Mode in the GMT dovetails with the EnerLinks Digital Video Over Analog (DVA) product, which allows legacy analog FM transmitters to send an AES-256 encrypted signal that contains an H.264 digital full motion video stream accompanied by up to 2 Mbps of IP traffic. With both the analog capable GMT and the DVA, UAV fleets can maintain interoperability with a mix of upgraded and unmodified aircraft and ground stations.

For more information including pricing, contact sales@enerdyne.com.

The Enerdyne division of ViaSat, based in El Cajon, CA, provides digital video data link systems for unmanned and manned airborne and other mobile platforms within the defense and intelligence industries and also provides advanced technologies in digital video compression and high performance, ultra reliable RF transport.

Safe Harbor Statement

Portions of this release, particularly statements about the capabilities and performance of the EnerlinksIII GMT, may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. ViaSat wishes to caution you that there are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including but not limited to: contractual problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or delays, regulatory issues, technologies not being developed according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations; and increased competition and other factors affecting the telecommunications industry generally. The Company refers you to the documents it files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the section titled Risk Factors in the Company's Form 10-K, which contain and identify other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements. Stockholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.

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