Inmarsat, Honeywell, Kymeta Collaborate on In-Flight Internet Connectivity Antennas

Inmarsat-5 F2, the second Global Xpress satellite (see 1501200055), successfully completed orbital deployment, Inmarsat said in a news release Tuesday. The satellite's thermal radiator panels were deployed and the payload was switched on, Inmarsat said. The next phase is payload testing, which is expected to take three weeks, it said. Inmarsat-5 F3, the third Global Xpress satellite, is scheduled to launch before the end of Q2, which will complete a globally available Ka-band mobile broadband satellite network, it said. Inmarsat is also collaborating with Honeywell Aerospace and Kymeta on an in-flight Internet connectivity system, it said in another news release Tuesday. The companies will offer a fast, lightweight Ka-band antenna for the business and commercial aviation market, it said. Kymeta will offer its mTenna products to Honeywell, which will test and integrate them into its JetWave aviation product line, Inmarsat said.