Viasat selected for NOAA C-130J program
Analysis based on 6 articles · First reported Jun 01, 2026 · Last updated Jun 04, 2026
This contract award is positive for Viasat, as it secures a significant role in a government program, potentially boosting its stock price. For Lockheed Martin, it reinforces its position as a prime contractor in aerospace and defense, with a neutral to slightly positive market impact.
Viasat has been selected by Lockheed Martin to provide high-bandwidth satellite communications technology for the United States — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) next-generation C-130J Hercules 'Hurricane Hunter' aircraft program. This subcontract, reporting through Viasat's Communication Services segment, will support the delivery of two specially modified C-130J aircraft, with options for additional units. These aircraft, expected to enter service by 2030, will function as airborne laboratories to collect critical environmental data, significantly enhancing NOAA's ability to improve hurricane forecasting and severe weather prediction. Viasat's Hybrid SATCOM Approach (HSA) technology will be integrated, marking the first formal line-fit integration on the C-130J platform, which aims to reduce modification time, cost, and risk. Victor Farah, Senior Vice President at Viasat, highlighted the validation of their open-architecture approach and the future-proofing of the aircraft's communication capabilities.
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