Boeing subsidiary Insitu and aviation communications provider Gogo Special Missions have combined and tested a high-speed satellite connectivity system on a Group 3 unmanned aerial system.
The project adapted Gogo’s Galileo HDX antenna for Insitu’s Integrator military drone, providing global internet connectivity via Eutelsat’s OneWeb low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network.
The solution offers military drone operators an alternative to Starlink for high-bandwidth satellite connectivity.
It uses a single line-replaceable unit engineered to meet the aircraft’s size and weight constraints without requiring major modifications to the airframe.
The satellite link is also free from US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) control, potentially simplifying export compliance for international military customers.
‘Essential Capability’
During trials, operators paired the platform with Boeing’s FLARES vertical takeoff and landing drone, demonstrating launch and recovery capabilities in high seas and strong winds while using minimal deck space.
The test highlighted the growing role of satellite-enabled command links as defense forces seek to maintain theater-level connectivity in contested and jammed environments.
“Adding an ITAR-free, high-speed SATCOM option is an essential capability for our global customers — extending command and control and allowing seamless backhaul of sensor data with minimal latency,” said John Kelly, vice president of growth at Insitu.
Ben Massey, general manager of Gogo Special Missions, added that modifying the antenna addresses growing demand for high-bandwidth connectivity on mid-sized military platforms.
“With our antenna system … Insitu customers will now be able to access high-speed, global internet,” Massey stated.
Neither company disclosed a timeline for full operational deployment.
