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Canada buys terminals for CP-140 maritime aircraft

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A CP-140 Aurora aircraft from 19 Wing Comox, carrying 15 crew members, arrives at Marine Corps Base Hawaii on to take part in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014. Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, about 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in Exercise RIMPAC from June 26 to Aug. 1 in and around the Hawaiian Islands. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2014 is the 24th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (Photo by Lt(N) Tammy Audet, Canadian Forces Combat Camera/Released/140705-O-ZZ999-001-CA2)

Canada has selected ViaSat terminals for its CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft.

The ViaSat KOR-24A small tactical terminal (STT) will be installed on the aircraft, which are used for oceanic surveillance as well as strike, ISR, and search and rescue missions.

“Specific selection of the ViaSat STT was made in recognition of the terminal’s ability to meet ongoing mission needs while satisfying deployment and fielding requirements, such as interoperability across all other Link 16 enabled platforms (Halifax-Class Frigates, CF-18 Hornets and fixed/mobile ground stations), affordability, exportability as well as immediate terminal availability,” a ViaSat news release said.

ViaSat is partnering with Canadian-based General Dynamics Mission Systems for the contract.

“This is a monumental award for ViaSat as it represents our first STT award to be used by the Department of National Defense as well as marks the CP-140 Aurora as a new airborne platform for our STT,” ViaSat’s vice president, Ken Peterman, said.

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Michael Peck is a correspondent for Defense News and a columnist for the Center for European Policy Analysis. He holds an M.A. in political science from Rutgers University. Find him at theuncommondefense.com. His email is mikedefense1@gmail.com.