ViaSat UK Ltd Secures £3.8Million Contract to Provide Encrypted Data Storage for SCOUT SV Programme

CARLSBAD, Calif. - July 21, 2015 - PRLog -- ViaSat Inc.  has been awarded a £3.8 million contract by General Dynamics UK to equip 589 SCOUT Specialist Vehicles (SV) with an on-board encrypted data storage system.

The UK Ministry of Defence has tasked General Dynamics UK to deliver SCOUT SV platforms to provide an essential armoured vehicle capability for the British Army: ViaSat will help equip vehicles starting 2017 and finishing in 2024. ViaSat’s system will ensure that sensitive mission data and intelligence stored on and gathered by SCOUT SV platforms will not be put at risk, regardless of the circumstances vehicles encounter.

“This contract reflects ViaSat’s capabilities in providing state of the art government-accredited encryption technology,” said Chris McIntosh, CEO of ViaSat UK. “Our experience providing secure systems to programs including the Lynx Wildcat helicopter and Watchkeeper Remotely Piloted Air System has stood us in good stead for ensuring that sensitive information remains safe. With this expertise, we can provide peace of mind for both vehicle crews and commanders in the increasingly data-driven, 21^st century battlefield.”

ViaSat’s bespoke on-board encrypted data storage system is based on its CAPS-accredited data encryption: the only hardware-based encryption technology that is certified to protect top-secret data at rest by CESG, the accreditation arm of the UK government.

“The secure data storage system provides modular technology, that can be upgraded as needed to ensure that SCOUT SV has modern, up-to-date capabilities across its entire lifespan,” said Chris McIntosh. “By taking this approach, we can help ensure that any future SCOUT SV variants, as well as other vehicle programs, have the information assurance security they need whilst also reducing investment risks for UK military procurement.”

SCOUT SV represents the future of Armoured Fighting Vehicles for the British Army, providing best-in-class protection and survivability, reliability and mobility and all-weather intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capabilities.

The program includes six variants: SCOUT Reconnaissance, Protected Mobility Reconnaissance Support (PMRS), Command and Control, Engineering Reconnaissance, Repair, and Recovery. Each SCOUT SV platform variant will be a highly-agile, tracked, medium-weight armoured fighting vehicle, providing British troops with best-in-class protection.

Introduction of the medium-weight vehicles is a key part of the British Army’s transformation plan, known as Army 2020, and this armoured vehicle deal could be the first of several deals announced in the near future.

About ViaSat UK:

ViaSat produces satellite and other communications products that enable fast, secure and efficient communications anywhere, anytime. ViaSat UK designs, develops and produces cyber security and information assurance solutions for government and corporate applications worldwide. Learn more at www.viasat.com.

Contact ViaSat:-

Spark Communications

viasat@sparkcomms.co.uk