Gilat Defense, Amazon Web Services, SES Space & Defense and the WAVE Consortium demonstrated a virtualized satellite modem architecture at the Satellite 2026 conference in Israel, with the live demo taking place on March 24 and 25 2026. The announcement of the event was issued on March 18 2026.
The demonstration featured an FPGA‑accelerated virtualized modem running on AWS cloud infrastructure linked to a Gilat Aquarius Pro DS modem via a DIFI‑compliant interface. The setup proved that modem functionality can be deployed as software, independent of custom hardware, allowing defense customers to add or upgrade capabilities through software updates without changing physical equipment.
This milestone supports Gilat’s broader strategy of moving from hardware‑centric solutions to software‑defined satellite platforms. By embracing open architecture and the DIFI standard, the company can expand its market reach and create new recurring revenue streams, aligning with industry trends toward virtualization and cloud‑based satellite communications.
"Modern defense operations require unprecedented flexibility and freedom of choice in SATCOM architecture. We are setting a new standard reflecting our innovation, agility, and deep understanding of rapidly evolving operational needs. By enabling virtualized modem capabilities that operate seamlessly across physical and cloud environments without compromising performance, we are redefining vendor flexibility for Ministries of Defense. We thank our partners for their collaboration in achieving this milestone."
"Open architecture is at the core of the WAVE Consortium. This demonstration highlights how WAVE‑aligned systems, built on standardized interfaces such as DIFI, utilizing FPGA technology which is of essence for the defense segment, enable interoperability across vendors and platforms and provide a strong foundation for next‑generation SATCOM."
The event is part of the WAVE Consortium’s effort to promote open, interoperable satellite communication systems. By demonstrating a software‑defined modem that can run on commercial cloud infrastructure, Gilat and its partners showcase a scalable, flexible solution that can be rapidly updated and deployed across multiple platforms, reducing vendor lock‑in and accelerating time‑to‑deployment for defense customers.
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