CARLSBAD, Calif., 25 August 2005. ViaSat Inc. has won a $19.8 million award from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics to supply a Communication Navigation and Identification Function Stimulator (CFS) for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
The contract period of performance is 30 months. Lockheed Martin will add the new ViaSat system to its Mission System Integration Lab in Fort Worth, Texas where avionics system integration is proceeding in preparation for the first flight of the F-35.
RF stimulators produce a variety of simultaneous signals that simulate a communications environment for testing communication, navigation, identification, and weapon system devices. Even after each individual subsystem is tested, the interaction of all equipment on board the aircraft can create additional problems in avionics systems as they select and process the desired signals. Measuring total system performance is possible only in the presence of complex time-varying radio frequency (RF) stimulation that tests not only the equipment, but the operational procedures to respond to various tactical situations as well.
"The CFS is similar to the Joint Communication Simulators we supplied to the Air Force and Navy," said Mike Kocin, business area director for RF Simulation at ViaSat. "But our latest system designs take advantage of the most advanced electronics architectures and incorporate the latest high-speed processors for higher performance."
As a result the system can respond to operator commands in one-fifth the time and support a much denser signal environment as well. The new ViaSat stimulation system design is also more modular to accommodate large or small RF simulation requirements.
The F-35 is a next-generation, supersonic, multi-role stealth aircraft designed to replace the AV-8B Harrier, A-10, F-16, F/A-18 Hornet and the United Kingdom's Harrier GR.7 and Sea Harrier. Three versions of the F-35 each derived from a common design, will ensure that the F-35 meets the performance needs of the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, the U.K. Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and allied defense forces worldwide, while staying within strict affordability targets.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., a business area of Lockheed Martin, is a leader in the design, research and development, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Products include the F-16, F/A-22, F-35 JSF, F-117, C-5, C-130, C-130J, P-3, S-3 and U-2. The company produces major components for the F-2 fighter, and is a co-developer of the C-27J tactical transport and T-50 advanced jet trainer. For more information, see www.lockheedmartin.com/aeronautics.
ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other wireless communication products that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to any location. Products include network security devices, tactical data radios, and communication simulators. ViaSat also has a full line of VSAT products for data and voice applications, and is a market leader in Ka-band satellite systems, from user terminals to large gateways. ViaSat has locations in Carlsbad, Calif., and Norcross, Ga., along with its Comsat Laboratories division based in Clarksburg, Md. Additional field offices are located in Boston, Mass. and the Washington DC/Baltimore area. For more information, see www.viasat.com.
In addition, the company's wholly-owned subsidiary, US Monolithics, designs and produces monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) and modules for use in broadband communications. US Monolithics is based in Chandler, Ariz.
