Viasat delivers MOJO tactical gateways to USAF

Viasat's Move Out/Jump Off (MOJO) Next tactical gateway (Viasat)

Tactical satellite communications company Viasat has completed initial deliveries of its Move Out/Jump Off (MOJO) Next tactical maneuver gateway system to the US Air Force (USAF), in response to “urgent operational requirements” outlined by the air service.

The MOJO Next gateway systems were handed over to elements from USAF's Air Mobility Command (AMC) in July, roughly two weeks after AMC leaders issued a task order to Viasat to meet the urgent operational requirement, according to a July company statement.

“The MOJO Next tactical gateway provides roll-on, roll-off airborne Link 16 command and control capability, enabling enhanced situational awareness and network connectivity for [US] aircraft supporting real-world operations”, the statement said.

The delivered systems “were subsequently deployed to support [AMC] mobility aircraft” allowing those USAF units to provide “enhanced tactical communications support, including command and control (C2) and situational awareness with integrated Link 16 capabilities”, according to the statement.

Company officials did not disclose which AMC units received the new MOJO Next systems or which theater of operations the systems were deployed to. However, company officials did note the urgent service request required programme officials to “rapidly accelerate normal timelines to support [USAF] immediate mission demands”, the statement said.

Funding for the MOJO Next rapid acquisition by the USAF was drawn from a sole-source Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract issued by the air service and Pentagon, according to the statement.

The recent MOJO Next rapid acquisition and delivery for AMC comes roughly a month after Viasat began development work on a wearable variant of a miniaturized version of the gateway terminal, programme officials told Janes in June.