Viasat, a global leader in satellite communications, announced its successful support of the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) Air Mobility Command (AMC) and Air Combat Command (ACC) during the Bamboo Eagle 24-3 (BE 24-3) exercise. Taking place from July 29 to August 10, 2024, at various locations across the United States and the eastern Pacific Ocean, this iteration of the Bamboo Eagle exercise followed Viasat’s involvement in the Mobility Guardian 2023 (MG23) exercise.
During BE 24-3, which involved thousands of U.S. service members alongside international allies and partners, Viasat provided resilient airborne communications using its C-130 Hercules Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) hatch terminal and Move Out/Jump Off (MOJO) Next tactical gateway. These technologies were instrumental in crosslinking incompatible networks, delivering both command and control (C2) and situational awareness (SA) without any modifications to the aircraft. The BLOS hatch and MOJO Next together enabled a 360-degree view of the battlespace, allowing AMC and ACC C-130J aircraft to share situational data with other Link-16 or Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL)-enabled platforms, enhancing the common operational picture (COP).
Viasat’s C-130 Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) G-18 Ka-band antenna hatch terminal (GAT-5518HM) offered seamless connectivity across the Ka-band spectrum, while the MOJO Next RORO tactical gateway provided a critical network extension in remote locations. During the exercise, the terminal and gateway were operational within one hour, enabling C-130Js to share real-time data with the Shadow Operations Center-Nellis (ShOC-N) and extending situational awareness across participants.
Victor Farah, Senior Vice President of Government Services and Solutions at Viasat, emphasized the technology’s ability to transform MAF aircraft into communication hubs, facilitating agile command and control, situational awareness, and joint force coordination, even in contested environments. This innovation aligns with AMC’s “25 by 25” initiative, which aims to equip 25% of its fleet with next-generation connectivity by 2025.
Earlier this year, AMC Commander Gen. Mike Minihan noted that investments in connectivity would enhance the survivability and combat capabilities of AMC’s warfighting forces. For more information, visit Viasat’s website to learn about MOJO tactical gateway solutions.
