Honeywell Provides JetWave Satcom System to US DoD Aircraft

JetWave hardware being installed on an aircraft. Photo: Honeywell Aerospace

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) selected Honeywell to provide the JetWave satellite communications system for 70 C-17 aircraft as a part of the Fixed Installation Satellite Antenna program. The beyond-line-of-sight communications system aims to support and improve the en route communication capabilities for the U.S. Air Force‘s fleet of C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. JetWave’s Ka-band hardware and Inmarsat‘s Global Xpress satellite network combine to help deliver global coverage for command-and-control link, including over water, on nontraditional flight paths and in remote areas.

Honeywell’s JetWave satellite communications system allows users to connect to the Inmarsat Global Xpress network, which delivers Ka-band satellite coverage around the globe. This aims to provide real-time weather, video conferencing, large file transfer, encryption capabilities, in-flight briefings, intelligence surveillance reconnaissance video and secure communications.

“Honeywell is driving the era of the Connected Aircraft for military operators, and broadband connectivity anywhere on the globe is now a mission-critical requirement in the modern battlespace,” said Steven Williams, vice president, Defense Americas, Honeywell Aerospace. “The United States military has been at the forefront of connectivity technologies. JetWave supports real-time situational awareness for the aircrew, soldiers on board, and ground-based command leadership, ultimately enabling better decision-making and enhancing safety.”