Honeywell has received certification to operate its JetWave MCX Ka-band Satcom terminal on the Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) network by the United States military, giving JetWave operators a new option when provisioning services for terminals.
According to Honeywell, Inmarsat’s Global Xpress and High-Capacity Cross Strap (HCX) military Ka beams will continue to be available for JetWave MCX users. But now operators in WGS-participating countries can switch between WGS and other networks. For military and government customers, the ability to use WGS is expected to support critical mission needs.
Honeywell believes the addition of the WGS network capability demonstrates the company’s commitment to a terminal able to work on multiple networks, allowing operators to select the network or networks that best meet their operational needs. Additional network certifications are also believed to be planned in the future.
Honeywell’s JetWave MCX satellite communications system is said to deliver advanced high-speed Satcom capabilities needed for the most demanding mission profiles. It enables global in-flight broadband data connectivity on many Ka-band networks, including Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) network, WGS, and other commercial and military KA-band networks, providing extensive global coverage.
Steve Hadden, vice president, Services & Connectivity, Honeywell Aerospace, said: “The WGS certification process is highly demanding and rigorous, which makes it one of the most challenging certifications for any Satcom manufacturer. Now operators using Honeywell’s JetWave MCX terminal will have access to an additional high-capacity Satcom network — WGS. The WGS certification further addresses operators’ sensitivity to operating expenses post-installation since the capability for interface to additional networks should contribute to lower operating expenses over the life of the terminal.”
Honeywell believes the JetWave MCX is well-suited to meet the communication needs of high-speed broadband airborne operators. For the requirements of military and government operators, JetWave MCX can enable a wide variety of mission-critical applications, such as enroute mission communications, inflight threat updates, inflight mission planning and teleconferencing, ISR video and data transmission, and secure communications.
