Viasat launches Tactical Mission Fabric for resilient edge-to-cloud military networking

CARLSBAD, Calif. - Viasat Inc. in Carlsbad, Calif., has launched the Viasat Tactical Mission Fabric (TMF), an edge-to-cloud networking overlay designed to enhance existing military tactical networks with resilient multi-path communications, distributed cloud computing, and artificial intelligence-enabled data processing.

The TMF architecture is intended to help military operators maintain connectivity and process operational data in denied, degraded, intermittent, and limited-bandwidth environments. The platform combines software-defined network orchestration, mesh networking, cybersecurity, and cloud integration to support intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, autonomous systems, and distributed command-and-control missions.

Viasat officials said the TMF platform is designed to work with existing tactical communications infrastructure rather than requiring wholesale replacement of deployed hardware. The company described the system as an infrastructure- and network-as-a-service capability that overlays existing wireless networks, cloud computing resources, and mission systems.

The TMF platform uses Viasat NetAgility software-defined orchestration technology to manage multiple communications transports, including satellite communications, 5G, mobile ad hoc networking, and legacy tactical radios. The system is intended to provide automated failover and support Autonomous Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency communications planning during electronic warfare and cyberattack conditions.

According to the company, TMF also converts tactical gateways and edge computing hardware into secure intra-theater cloud nodes capable of supporting low-latency AI and machine learning processing closer to operational users. The architecture is designed to connect tactical edge systems with enterprise networks and secure government cloud environments, including Impact Level 5 and classified cloud systems.

The company said TMF incorporates dual-layer encryption, continuous monitoring, and support for a cybersecurity operations center to align with government zero-trust security objectives.

For more information, please visit https://www.viasat.com/.