ViaSat is a satellite and other digital communication products producer enabling secure and efficient communications to any location. The $18.3 million contract is an extension award for ViaSat to continue support of three Joint Communication Simulators. Officials say the contract extension includes options that could make the overall value of the award $20.9 million.

ViaSat will continue development of the new operating modes Link-16 Joint Communication Simulator among other signals.

“This contract is very important to the continued development of new communication, navigation, and identification system test capability for our Department of Defense customers and further extends our lead in the functional range of our systems,” said Greg Norton, program manager, ViaSat Simulation Systems Group, in a statement.

ViaSat has been a Department of Defense contractor for more than 10 years. Company officials say THE Maryland-based Naval Air Warfare Center's Air Combat Environment Test and Evaluation Facility and the Aircraft Division OF the Air Force Flight Test Center Electronic Warfare Avionics Test and Integration Complex at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., use the company's JCS systems.

Under the contract ViaSat will support Air Force and Navy avionics system testing through 2013.