The Malibu Division of Communications & Power Industries LLC (CPI) has been selected by an international defense technologies company to provide airborne data links for the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS). CPI Malibu Division is providing dual-axis Ku-band high-gain airborne data links for the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) version of the Global Hawk.
Intended to operate autonomously, the high-altitude, long-endurance Global Hawk uses a satellite data link to transmit data and images between the UAS and the ground-based mission control, enabling military commanders to gather near real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) information. CPI Malibu Division’s advanced data link antennas are an integral part of Global Hawk’s ISR systems, supporting situational awareness in a network-centric battle-space.
“CPI Malibu Division’s AT-23 dual-axis airborne data link antennas have high-gain capabilities and can operate at extremely low temperatures, which are essential features for the unique challenges associated with the nature and mission of the RQ-4 Global Hawk,” said Steve Lonngren, president of CPI Malibu Division. “We are proud to play a role in providing critical intelligence to today’s warfighters and to add the RQ-4 Global Hawk to the growing list of UAS systems that CPI Malibu Division supports.”
CPI Malibu Division currently provides both single and dual-axis airborne, high-precision auto-tracking ground data terminals and satellite/line-of-sight (LOS) shipboard communications systems operating at Ku-band to support a number of UAS platforms.
