The Enerdyne division of ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq:VSAT) has added a new operating mode for its EnerLinksIII Ground Modem Transceiver (GMT) that enables it to interoperate with airborne vehicles that use analog FM technology to transmit NTSC, PAL, or RS170 sensor video over a line-of-sight, air-to-ground communications link.

While unmanned system programs such as Shadow and Predator operate with analog ISR data links, digital EnerLinks technology has been deployed in hundreds of advanced data links for use in classified and other surveillance applications. As the EnerLinksIII system is software programmable, it can adapt to new digital waveforms as the DoD expands its requirements for digital interoperability beyond common data link (CDL), such as the anticipated digital data link (DDL) for small unmanned systems. EnerLinks is used by DRS Technologies to upgrade its Sentry and Neptune unmanned aerial system (UAS). Recently, Insitu announced the use of EnerLinks for its future Integrator and Scan Eagle UAS. To date Insitu has shipped more than 1,000 Scan Eagles. Enerdyne will be demonstrating this new product feature under the ViaSat canopy at the AUVSI 5th biennial flight demonstration at Webster Field in Patuxent River on August 10th.