Airbus Defence and Space and Inmarsat, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, have signed an agreement covering high-throughput airborne Global Xpress (GX) terminals, confirming Airbus Defense and Space’s leading airborne satcom expertise.

This latest agreement unleashes high throughput satcom options for comms-on-the-move ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) operations for aircraft – in particular helicopters – as well as for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) domain. Military and other government customers will now have access to Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band service through Airbus Defence and Space’s airborne portfolio. Global Xpress is set to be the world’s first globally available commercial high-speed broadband service delivered via a Ka-band satellite network.

Andy Start, President, Inmarsat Global Government said: "Combining the unique Global Xpress service with Airbus Defence and Space’s proven heritage in airborne satcom heralds a new era of operational flexibility. The ability to deploy anywhere, at no notice, with high speed internet quality links will drive massive improvements in capability and cost effectiveness."

The agreement further reinforces the relationship between Airbus Defence and Space and Inmarsat Global Government. Following on the strategic GX distribution partnership agreement concluded in December 2013, this extends future commercial Ka-band service options within Airbus Defence and Space’s AuroraGlobal portfolio. In the government sector, Airbus Defence and Space is the world’s leading commercial satcom service supplier. Some of the most modern government agencies in the world figure among Airbus Defence and Space customers, including UK, France, Germany, USA, and NATO.

Airbus Defence and Space also delivers a host of avionic products, including the “AirPatrol” airborne satcom terminals. This range offers the highest performance fully qualified airborne satcom terminal technology available, with secure high-data-rate communications for governmental missions and applications.

About Airbus Defence and Space

Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus Group formed by combining the business activities of Cassidian, Astrium and Airbus Military. The new division is Europe’s number one defence and space enterprise, the second largest space business worldwide and among the top ten global defence enterprises. It employs some 40,000 employees generating revenues of approximately €14 billion per year.