09/10/2017: From June to December 2017, Air Force is trialling the use of a Ka-Band Satellite Communication (SATCOM) antenna and suite on board a C-130J Hercules transport aircraft.
This SATCOM system provides greater bandwidth than previous systems fitted to the RAAF’s Hercules fleet, and allows live-streaming and transfer of large files whilst in flight.
Under Air Force’s Plan Jericho, opportunities are being pursued to bring integrated and networked systems to the Defence workforce, with the intent of this SATCOM trial being to develop new ways for air mobility aircraft to support their customers.
The trial was conducted through support from industry partners in Airbus Group Australia Pacific, Inmarsat, Honeywell, and L-3 Communications, as well as Defence’s own Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group.
Australian Department of Defense:9/8/17
For an update on Plan Jericho, see the following:
An Update on Plan Jericho: Shaping a Way Ahead for the Fifth-Generation Force