Viasat and QEST Collaborating to Advance Multi-Band, Multi-Orbit Airborne Connectivity for Defense Operations

Viasat and QEST, a leading provider of high-performance broadband satellite antennas, are exploring the development of a next generation dual X-band and Ka-band airborne antenna system. The collaboration represents a potential evolution in Viasat’s Hybrid Satcom Approach (HSA) system, an open-architecture terminal platform designed for delivering resilient, high-capacity, multipath connectivity to government and defense aviation customers worldwide. The HSA system enables operations over commercial and military satellite constellations in GEO, MEO, HEO, and LEO orbits.

 

The collaboration centers on evolving Viasat’s HSA solution by integrating QEST’s proven X-band aperture technology into Viasat’s Global Aero Terminal (GAT) 5530—an established Ku/Ka-band terminal already in wide use, including as a foundational component of the HSA platform. By replacing the existing Ku-band aperture with QEST’s X-band hardware, the companies are jointly evaluating an X/Ka multi-band terminal that would offer enhanced mission assurance, improved resiliency, and greater operational flexibility for fixed-wing aircraft operators.

 

A Strategic Collaboration Built on Complementary Strengths

 

The relationship between Viasat and QEST is rooted in a shared vision: enabling government and defense aviation customers to operate with the highest possible communication flexibility across commercial and sovereign networks. Viasat brings deep expertise in high-throughput Ka-band satellite connectivity and a mature airborne terminal platform with the GAT5530. QEST contributes decades of experience in precision airborne antenna systems, including a fully qualified X-band aperture operating at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9.

 

Together, the companies are exploring creation of a form, fit, function alternative within the existing HSA architecture—allowing operators to interchangeably select Ku/Ka or X/Ka configurations based on sovereign needs, without altering aircraft installation requirements.

 

Advancing Multi-Band Capabilities for Modern Missions

 

Through this collaboration, Viasat and QEST will jointly assess technical integration paths, engineering considerations, operational concepts, and potential customer use cases. If realized, the dual-band X/Ka solution would enable a single terminal to access both military X-band networks and commercial and military Ka-band satellite services, including compatibility with current and emerging MILSATCOM systems.

 

“Multi-band connectivity is becoming increasingly important for mission assurance and operational flexibility,” said Jason Sabol, Vice President of Government Aviation, Viasat Government Services and Solutions. “Working with QEST allows us to explore how the proven performance of the Viasat GAT5530 platform could be expanded to support additional frequency bands and meet evolving sovereign mission requirements.”

 

“At QEST, we drive technological innovation to provide our customers with maximum operational capability and secure communications. Our joint development of an X/Ka-capable aviation terminal with Viasat is a significant step towards delivering state-of-the-art multi-band and multi-orbit connectivity for the most demanding mission profiles,” said Dr. Phillip Mayer, CEO at QEST.

 

Next Steps

 

Looking forward, Viasat and QEST will evaluate system design, potential manufacturing at QEST for the European defense market, and opportunities for future demonstrations. While the agreement does not commit either company to a final product, it solidifies their long-term strategic collaboration and sets the stage for potential future development milestones.

 

Learn more about Viasat’s flight-proven HSA platform.