EnerLinksII^™ digital ISR data link supports new CONOPS with IP data, AES encryption, time-aligned KLV metadata with H.264 compressed video, and range performance to the horizon.

El Cajon, CA – January 22, 2009 – Enerdyne Technologies Inc., a ViaSat company, will supply its EnerLinksII DVA digital data link technology to Insitu Inc. for use in its Integrator™ and next generation ScanEagle™ unmanned aircraft system (UAS) programs. The DVA (Digital Video over Analog) system enables simple conversion of older FM analog video links to encrypted digital links. The ScanEagle UAV has clocked over 125,000 mission hours in support of United States and coalition forces. Insitu produces and sells a growing fleet of unmanned aircraft systems that are low-cost, long-endurance, and require fewer personnel to operate.

Enerdyne is supplying the EnerLinksII DVA system to Insitu to meet the size, weight, power, and input/output requirements for Integrator and Scan Eagle aircraft and ground systems. The DVA enables Insitu to convert to an encrypted digital video link without replacing any of the RF equipment in either the aircraft or the ground. The improved digital performance increases UAV video link range by a factor of four while using only a quarter of the bandwidth of analog video links. The DVA can transmit 2 Mbps of IP data simultaneously with compressed FMV (Full Motion Video) using the same FM video transmitter that was designed for a single analog video channel.

“Going to a digital link is essential for the newer IP-based payloads and the overall need to use bandwidth efficiently,” said Charlie Guthrie, Insitu CTO “Enerdyne has been an excellent industry partner and has worked closely with our development team to expand our extensive UAS technology.”

The EnerLinksII DVA product is a small 3-inch by 5-inch by 1-inch module, placed between the ISR sensors and the RF transmitter, using less than 8 watts and weighing under one-half pound. It is designed to provide Insitu UAVs with a fully-featured digital link including H.264 compression, IP multiplexing, AES encryption, FEC coding, and modulation waveshaping.

“With Insitu, we share a common vision to deliver exceptional ISR information to meet the present and future requirements of the tactical warfighter,” said Enerdyne GM Steve Gardner. “Insitu UAS platforms are a critical component of gathering that information, and our whole team is excited to help them advance to digital
data links.”

Initial systems to support both ScanEagle and Integrator systems are being shipped in 2009.

About Insitu

Insitu Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company located in Bingen, Washington, designs, develops, and manufactures unmanned aircraft systems for commercial and military application. ScanEagle has logged more than 125,000 hours of operational flight time since it was first deployed with the Marines in 2004 and with the Navy in 2005, including nearly 1,500 shipboard launch-recovery cycles from Navy ships. Visit www.insitu.com for more information.

About Enerdyne

Enerdyne Technologies, based in El Cajon, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT). Enerdyne 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.

ViaSat Inc. Safe Harbor Statement

Portions of this release, particularly statements about the performance and deliveries of products and technology, and the enduring data link architecture, 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.

« Back to news archive