Viasat, Inc., a global leader in satellite communications, has successfully supported the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) Air Mobility Command (AMC) and Air Combat Command (ACC) during the recent Bamboo Eagle 24-3 (BE 24-3) exercise.
This event, which took place from July 29 to August 10, 2024, followed Viasat’s involvement in the Mobility Guardian 2023 (MG23) exercise and was held at various locations across the United States and the eastern Pacific Ocean, with Nellis Air Force Base as its hub.
BE 24-3, like its predecessor Bamboo Eagle 24-1, involved thousands of U.S. service members alongside international allies and partners, focusing on building upon the training fundamentals practiced in MG23.
Viasat was critical by providing advanced airborne communication solutions, including its C-130 Hercules Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) hatch terminal and Move Out/Jump Off (MOJO) Next tactical gateway. These technologies enabled AMC and ACC C-130J aircraft to crosslink incompatible networks, offering seamless command and control (C2) and situational awareness (SA) without any modifications to the aircraft.
The system allowed real-time data exchange between the C-130Js and other Link-16 or Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL)-enabled platforms, extending the common operational picture (COP) across the battlespace.
Victor Farah, Senior Vice President of Government Services and Solutions at Viasat, highlighted the significance of the technology: “Viasat’s integrated capability enables MAF aircraft to serve as high-throughput communication hubs, extending situational awareness and command control across the battlespace. This connectivity helps joint and coalition forces adapt to mission changes in real-time, even in contested environments.”
During the exercise, Viasat’s equipment was installed and made operational in under an hour, allowing the C-130J aircraft to function as “red force” aircraft. The systems enabled ACC to develop new tactics, techniques, and procedures for non-traditional tactical C2 (TAC C2) operations, providing critical support for airborne mission specialists.
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Viasat’s innovations are part of AMC’s plan to equip 25% of the Mobility Air Force (MAF) fleet with next-generation resilient connectivity by 2025. Gen. Mike Minihan, AMC Commander, emphasized the importance of such advancements, stating, “Connectivity investments will increase the survivability, agility, resiliency, and lethality of AMC warfighting capabilities.”
This exercise further demonstrated Viasat’s commitment to supporting the USAF’s evolving needs, enhancing real-time operational capabilities across the joint force.
