Boeing’s (BA) drone subsidiary Insitu and Gogo Inc. (GOGO) have successfully tested a military drone using satellite communications, creating a new option for defense customers seeking alternatives to Elon Musk-led SpaceX’s (SPCX) Starlink network.
The test involved integrating a modified Galileo HDX antenna onto an Insitu Integrator unmanned aircraft. The system connects through Eutelsat Communications SA’s OneWeb low-Earth-orbit network. According to the companies, the setup requires no aircraft modifications and provides an ITAR-free, high-speed SATCOM option.
Insitu Vice President of Growth John Kelly stated that the system would extend command-and-control range and allow for the "seamless backhaul of sensor data with minimal latency." The Integrator aircraft can remain airborne for up to 27.5 hours and carry a 50-pound payload. The system is designed to support both proliferated-LEO and geosynchronous satellite-control options. In 2024, the company demonstrated P-LEO control at distances up to 2,000 nautical miles.
The Gogo system utilizes Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation, which currently consists of more than 600 satellites. Earlier this month, Eutelsat announced plans to procure 229 additional OneWeb satellites from Airbus SE to replenish and expand the constellation.
Despite the new testing, Starlink continues to operate at a much larger scale. Reuters reports that its thousands of satellites dwarf rival constellations. SpaceX’s connectivity business generated $4.29 billion in second-quarter revenue, up 66% year over year. The Space Force awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion secure satellite-data-network contract in May, and a separate $1.6 billion award covers 18 national-security launches. Britain began using Starshield for military operations earlier this year.
The testing by Insitu and Gogo has not disclosed when the new Integrator configuration will enter service.
