Boeing unit Insitu and Gogo test satellite-linked military drone

Boeing drone subsidiary Insitu and aviation connectivity provider Gogo successfully tested a military drone using satellite communications on September 22, 2026. The trial marks an effort by defense contractors and governments to diversify options beyond Elon Musk's Starlink.

Gogo Special Missions, the military and government unit of Gogo, integrated a modified Galileo HDX antenna into Insitu's Integrator drone. The medium-sized unmanned aircraft is used by military clients for surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

The integrated system provides high-speed global connectivity through Eutelsat OneWeb's low Earth orbit satellite network. The companies noted that the system is not subject to the US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which simplifies exports to international buyers.

John Kelly, vice president of growth at Insitu, said that adding an ITAR-exempt high-speed satellite communications option expands command and control range while accelerating data transfers from battlefield sensors. The companies did not provide a deployment timeline.