Demo shows high-speed data delivery with high-speed Blackhawk helicopter flight dynamics

Carlsbad, CA – ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT) and the U.S. Army extended the Vehicular Blue Force Tracking 2 (BFT2) demonstration with successful Army Aviation BFT2 demonstrations aboard a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. The new ViaSat ArcLight® BFT2 satellite communication network delivered 122 kilobits per second of Internet Protocol (IP) traffic to ground terminals over an Inmarsat I4 satellite channel, compared to the 5.2 kilobits per second performance of the current BFT system. Days later at Ft. Eustis, Virginia, ViaSat completed a number of successful demonstrations of the aviation version of the BFT2 terminal on a Blackhawk helicopter maneuvering at speeds up to 150 knots. The ability to achieve both higher data throughput and support helicopter flight dynamics improves the mission utility of the BFT2 system.

Armed forces use Blue Force Tracking to view regularly updated troop positions on screens in their vehicles and aircraft to differentiate between friendly and enemy forces. Because missions like those in Iraq and Afghanistan require units to operate in dispersed locations, the range of terrestrial radio-based systems can be insufficient. The next-generation ViaSat BFT2 satellite network, developed for the U.S. Army under contract with Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, provides IP data delivery that is faster than the current BFT system allowing a higher position refresh rate that can update as often as once every two seconds.

“The Army Aviation BFT2 prototype system shows strong potential for a much needed upgrade to the satellite communication network”, said Don Morgan, who supported the demonstration for Army Aviation from The MITRE Corporation.

“The demonstration showed the flexibility of ArcLight® technology and the innovative antenna design of the BFT2 terminal, which enables vehicles and aircraft to connect with higher bandwidth capacity even at low satellite elevation angles,” said Frank Ganaden, chief engineer of BFT2 at ViaSat.

Safe Harbor Statement

Portions of this release, particularly statements about the performance and deliveries of ViaSat products and technology, 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. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in ViaSat’s SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including without limitation, ViaSat’s annual reports on Form 10-K and ViaSat’s 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.

ArcLight is a registered trademark of ViaSat Inc.

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