Viasat has announced plans to launch its ViaSat-3 F2 satellite aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket in October. The new satellite is expected to double the company’s bandwidth capacity and expand global connectivity for aviation, maritime and defense customers.
A global leader in satellite communications, Viasat, Inc. has confirmed that its next ultra-high-capacity satellite, ViaSat-3 Flight 2 (F2), will launch in the second half of October aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The satellite has been designed to provide more bandwidth capacity than the company’s entire existing fleet. Once operational, it will become part of Viasat’s growing multi-orbit network, aimed at serving surging demand for secure and resilient connectivity across land, sea and air.
ViaSat-3 F2 will also be capable of moving and concentrating bandwidth to regions with the highest demand. The company expects this flexibility to deliver improved economics, coverage and performance for both commercial mobility and defense customers.
“I’m proud of our Viasat team and partners for pushing the boundaries with these ultra-high-capacity satellites, which will deliver extensive benefits to our customers, including enhanced network efficiency, performance, user experience, coverage, capacity, flexibility and cost,” said Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO of Viasat.
Dankberg added that the first satellite in the series, ViaSat-3 F1, is already delivering strong performance and enabling improved passenger experience for airlines. “Our customers are excited about the addition of ViaSat-3 F2 to our global network, which we expect will significantly scale performance and number and density of users, and enable exciting new connectivity services alongside our in-flight entertainment and monetization business models,” he said.
Gary Chase, Chief Financial Officer at Viasat, highlighted the company’s recent financial progress. “We’re very confident about the future and excited to be realizing this milestone towards doubling Viasat’s bandwidth capacity,” Chase said. “Supported by our key customer relationships, strong business franchises, and momentum in attractive growing markets, we delivered both record revenues and record new contract awards in FY2025. We are laser focused on what we can achieve in FY2026 and beyond as we continue to build earnings power, reduce capital intensity, and generate sustained and growing free cash flow.”
The exact launch date will be announced closer to October in coordination with United Launch Alliance. Once in service, ViaSat-3 F2 is expected to play a central role in Viasat’s plans to expand its footprint globally and meet the needs of rapidly growing connectivity markets.
Viasat, which completed its acquisition of Inmarsat in 2023, now operates with a combined team and technology portfolio across 24 countries. The company has positioned itself as a major provider of satellite communications, serving customers from commercial aviation and maritime operators to government and defense users.
