RAF Red Arrows tap Airbus Skynet
The British Royal Air Force's (RAF) Red Arrows aerobatics display team is using Airbus Defence and Space satellite communications during its Asia Pacific and Middle East tour, Airbus announced on 8 November.
The company is delivering satellite communications during the more than 20 flying displays that the Red Arrows team will undertake. The 12 Hawk T1 aircraft of the Red Arrows from RAF Scampton will perform displays and a series of flypasts throughout October and November 2016.
Airbus Defence and Space's Skynet constellation will provide the assured data and voice communications throughout the tour, largely through the newly relocated Skynet 5A satellite and the company-managed anchor station in Adelaide, Australia that opened with partner SpeedCast in May 2016.
In September 2015, the company successfully completed the 67,000km relocation of the Skynet 5A satellite from six degrees to 95 degrees East. The relocation extended the constellation coverage and services from 115 West to 163 East, including the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. With this, the Skynet network offers global UHF and military X-band coverage for UK and coalition militaries.
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