[SatNews] When it comes to the military theater, commanders who receive data and images in near real-time have a real chance of being one step ahead with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) information and making this possible is...

The Malibu Division of Communications & Power Industries LLC (CPI) as been awarded an approximately $2.5 million contract from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) for ground-based data links to support the GA-ASI Predator®/MQ-9 Reaper® remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) system. Under the contract, CPI Malibu Division will provide GA-ASI with C-band, advanced data link antennas for tracking and communications support.

The C-band data link utilizes both an electronic-scanning antenna and acquisition aid for high-accuracy tracking of Predator B RPA in various environments and theaters. The advanced data link antennas also transmit data and images between the RPA and the ground-based control station, enabling military commanders to gather and disseminate near real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) information.

“Having enjoyed a partnership with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems that spans more than  a decade, CPI Malibu Division has witnessed firsthand the reliability and importance of GA-ASI’s proven Predator B aircraft, which have been deployed in numerous combat zones and accumulated over one million flight hours. CPI Malibu Division’s technology plays a critical role in Predator B’s mission to protect our warfighters,” said Steve Lonngren, president of CPI Malibu Division.

Work on this contract will be performed at CPI Malibu Division’s facilities in Camarillo, Calif. CPI Malibu Division 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 L/S, C, Ku and Ka-band to support multiple applications.