Viasat, Inc. (USA): Strategic-Technological Analysis for European Defense Autonomy

Viasat, Inc. is a global communications company (Nasdaq: VSAT) founded in 1986 in Carlsbad, California[1][2]. As a publicly traded mid-cap corporation, Viasat has grown into a leading provider of high-speed satellite broadband and secure networking solutions for both commercial and military markets. Its mission is to connect “everyone and everything in the world” through an integrated space-terrestrial network[2]. While headquartered in the USA, Viasat now operates worldwide (with offices in 24 countries[2], including a growing R&D presence in Europe[3]) and serves as a critical enabler of coalition communications. The company’s activities range from high-capacity GEO and LEO satellites to tactical data links and advanced encryption. Under the lens of European strategic autonomy and allied deterrence, Viasat’s technologies promise new capabilities for Europe’s defense networks – but also raise questions about supply-chain sovereignty and transatlantic alignment. This analysis examines Viasat’s strategic-technical profile relative to EU and NATO priorities in connectivity, interoperability, and resilience, highlighting where its contributions can bolster Europe’s defense-industrial base and where gaps remain.