An AeroVironment laser terminal. Photo: AeroVironment, Inc.

AeroVironment (AV) has won a contract worth around $240 million for its long-haul laser communications terminals. The terminals will be deployed in orbit by an unnamed customer. AV’s long-haul laser communications terminals aim to deliver multi-orbit, space-to-space satellite crosslink capabilities while operating in the complex challenges of space environments, including jitter, extreme temperatures, and the absence of atmosphere. AV announced the contract on Sept. 8.

AV is a U.S.-based defense technology company that builds unmanned aerial vehicles that also has a range of space capabilities.

The laser communications systems aim to offer new capabilities for transferring high-bandwidth data in space, enabling the secure exchange of more data at a faster rate across further distances across orbits and beyond. In March, AV completed a successful two-terminal long-haul, multi-orbit laser communication system demonstration and announced its manufacturing readiness for orbit.

“This contract moves our superior, next-generation long-haul laser communication terminals from the lab to orbit — a significant milestone not only for our team and this technology but for commercial space industry capabilities. Since validating the technology earlier this year, we’ve been internally investing in our manufacturing and scaling production to meet the demand signals we’re hearing from our customers. We’re ready to deliver and ready to show what these terminals can do in orbit,” Mary Clum, executive vice president of AV’s Space and Directed Energy Group, said in a statement.