Canadian Government Executive - Volume 25 - Issue 03

30 / Canadian Government Executive // August/September 2019 technology over the last few years to improve Cana- da’s procurement processes and despite delays, cost overruns, and other challeng- es encountered with defence procure- ment projects, the Canadian government has remained committed to its current multi-departmental model. Private sector collaboration With cost containment and schedule slip- page continuing to be a struggle, it is im- perative that the Canadian Government and DND work together and find a better way to keep pace with technology. To do this, they must look to the private sector to take advantage of the rapid technologi- cal advancements that are evolving much faster and being deployed more efficient- ly than what the Canadian Armed Forces is currently using. Viasat is one of the companies that is realizing great success by addressing this deficiency of slow acquisition timelines that fail to get current and emergent tech- nologies to the warfighter fast enough. By leveraging a unique culture of innovation and employee empowerment, coupled with entrepreneurial business strategies, agile technology development processes and non-traditional business models, Vi- asat accelerates the delivery of turnkey operational capabilities to warfighters much faster than traditional defence pro- curement. A new approach Viasat’s collaboration with its defence cus- tomers has become a significant growth engine, even in an uneven defence mar- ket. While others seem focused on sim- ply responding to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Viasat’s team proactively engages with customers to discover what new ca- pabilities they really need by actively lis- tening to their concerns — and by asking lots of questions. “Our success is based on collaborating with our customers to understand what they really need —focusing on solving their most urgent problems,” said Ken Peterman, president, Government Systems at Viasat. “We bring commercial innovation, tech- nology and thinking to the defence mar- ket, which allows us to effectively deliver cutting-edge solutions that enable dramati- cally improved customer outcomes.” A few examples of Viasat’s ability to rapidly transform innovative ideas and cutting-edge technologies into warfighter solutions include their Next Generation Link 16 products like the AN/PRC-161, the world’s only handheld Link 16 radio, and the KOR-24A Small Tactical Terminal. In the satellite communications (SATCOM) market segment, the Global Mobile An- tenna (GMA) 5560-101 KuKarray multi- mode, multi-band antenna and the AN/ TSC-241 Multi-Mission Satcom Terminal (MMT) are also good examples of external customer collaboration. In the cyberse- curity and information assurance market segment, Viasat used the same agile devel- opment to create the world’s first 100 GB encryption products. In addition to finding better ways to ex- ecute critical missions, Viasat also employs innovative business models and unconven- tional defence procurement processes to de- velop and deliver these turnkey operational capabilities that address the real-world problems warfighters face on the ground, in the air, and at sea. For instance, with Viasat’s service fee-based approach to bundling tra- ditional SATCOM services with valuable companion capabilities like automated net- work management, terminal prioritization and active cyber defense, the warfighter is able to acquire an integrated SATCOM ca- pability that assures capacity, performance and quality of service in benign — as well as contested — environments. The future is available today Enormous investments are being made by the private sector to develop capabilities that meet the needs of today’s missions while also addressing emerging require- ments. The military has an enormous op- portunity to leverage this private sector investment without bearing the develop- ment cost or risk associated with a large, complex procurement. It’s clear the Canadian Government has a largely untapped opportunity to make the most of new capabilities being driven by private sector companies that will give warfighters the tactical edge required to succeed across today’s data driven bat- tlespace. Viasat remains committed to working with the Canadian Government to find innovative ways to bring new tech- nologies to the warfighter with unprece- dented speed in order to fulfill the mission needs of today while preparing for the fu- ture conflicts of tomorrow. The Canadian Government and DND work together and find a better way to keep pace with technology. To do this, they must look to the private sector to take advantage of the rapid technological advancements that are evolving much faster and being deployed more efficiently than what the Canadian Armed Forces is currently using.