Ultra Electronics, GigaSat becomes channel partner for MILSATCOM in Indonesia

Airbus Defence & Space (DS) has signed Ultra Electronics, GigaSat (GigaSat) to its channel partner programme for SKYNET services. GigaSat will be offering Skynet services as part of their mobile and fly-away communications portfolio, to Indonesian Defence Forces operating within the Asia Pacific Region. Airbus DS is working with service providers to develop new partnerships to deliver highly resilient Skynet military satellite communication services to Asia Pacific region, following the move of its SKYNET 5A satellite from 6° East to 95° East to provide global X-band and UHF coverage in this region.

“We have worked with GigaSat already for a number of years working with their extensive satellite terminal portfolio,” Steve Mills, Head of Global Sales and Marketing for Skynet 5 at Airbus DS, said. “This new partnership will enable GigaSat to offer Skynet services to their already strong terminal customer base; the services will primarily be using the newly relocated Skynet 5A satellite and enable users to operate in both the US and Asia regions.”

“GigaSat has a long history of providing integrated hardware solutions to our global satcom customers,” Tom Cross, Business Unit Director for Ultra Electronics, GigaSat, continued. “This partnership with Airbus will for the first time allow us to also provide X-band and UHF Skynet services, and we are particularly excited about bringing this capability to the Indonesian market, where we have enjoyed strong customer relationships for many years.”

Airbus DS owns and operates the hardened SKYNET X-band satellite constellation of eight satellites and the ground network to provide all Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications to the UK Ministry of Defence. The contract also allows other NATO and allied governments such as members of the five-eyes community (besides UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada) to use the Skynet system to augment their existing services.

Tim Mahon