Viasat (VSAT) & Airbus Partner to Enhance Aircraft Connectivity
Viasat VSAT has collaborated with Airbus to equip the Irish Air Corps' (“IAC”) Airbus C295 MSA aircraft with an advanced, secure, and adaptable Ku-band and Ka-band airborne technology — GAT-5530. The C295 MSA aircraft serves as a tactical transport and ISR platform for various military operations for the Irish Defense Forces.
The integration aims to enhance the aircraft capabilities of the Irish Defense Forces, specifically focusing on the Military Air Defense of Ireland airspace and supporting UN peacekeeping operations. Earlier this year, Airbus had completed the delivery of two C295 MSA aircraft to the Irish Defense Forces.
The inclusion of Viasat's GAT-5530 terminal significantly boosts the aircraft functionality by providing secure satellite connectivity. The technology supports a range of command, control and communication mission needs like tactical transport and communication as well as intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance.
Viasat Inc. Price and Consensus
Viasat Inc. price-consensus-chart | Viasat Inc. Quote
The distinguishing feature of the GAT-5530 is its ability to operate across the entire ITU Ku-band and Ka-band, including commercial and military Ka-band frequencies. This offers increased operational flexibility for military users seeking resilience in their communication systems.
Apart from this, Viasat's broadband SATCOM service also provides ample capacity for real-time aircraft health data monitoring, facilitating condition-based maintenance and minimizing operational downtime. Moreover, Viasat has entered into a contract with the IAC to manage SATCOM services across multiple aircraft, including the C295 MSA and a fleet of PC-12 special mission aircraft.
Viasat designs, develops and markets advanced digital satellite telecommunications and other wireless networking and signal processing equipment. The company provides high-bandwidth, high-performance communications solutions to the public as well as military enterprises and government enterprises.
The company is ramping up investments in the development of its revolutionary ViaSat-3 broadband communications platform, which will have nearly 10 times the bandwidth capacity of ViaSat-2. ViaSat-3 class of Ka-band satellites are expected to provide enhanced bandwidth with greater flexibility to move and concentrate that capacity virtually anywhere there is demand.
Viasat currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The stock has lost 24.4% over the past year compared with the industry's decline of 3.8%.
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Some other top-ranked stocks in the broader technology space are Pegasystems PEGA, Flex FLEX and Watts Water Technologies WTS. Pegasystems and Flex presently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), whereas Watts Water Technologies carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Flex’s fiscal 2024 EPS has increased 3.6% in the past 60 days to $2.56. Flex’s long-term earnings growth rate is 12.4%.
Flex’s earnings outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, the average earnings surprise being 11%. Shares of the company have risen 20.1% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Watts Water Technologies 2023 EPS has improved 2.8% in the past 60 days to $8.00. Watts Water’s long-term earnings growth rate is 7.8%.
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