Inmarsat has reached agreement in principle with Rockwell Collins whereby which Rockwell Collins will take the leading role in development, production and distribution of User Terminals (UTs) for future Inmarsat's Global Xpress (GX) aeronautical services to the aviation industry.

With the support of Rockwell Collins, in-flight testing of the Global Xpress aeronautical services will begin after the launch of the first Inmarsat-5 satellite scheduled for mid-2013 with global services for commercial air transport, business aviation and government customers worldwide in 2014.

Under the agreement, Inmarsat and Rockwell Collins will enter into exclusive negotiations that are expected to lead to definitive agreements by late 2011.

Rockwell Collins is a leading global provider of communication and aviation electronic solutions for commercial and government customers. They have a strong track record of designing, manufacturing and integrating connectivity solutions on business, commercial and government aircraft.

Inmarsat currently has over 11,000 aircraft relying on global in-flight connectivity, and is the most widely used satellite operator in the industry. Inmarsat was the first to provide global safety services that comply with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The GX aeronautical offering will be economical, in terms of both hardware and services to the end users, providing the only global Ka broadband connectivity with transmission speeds at least double that of Ku offerings.

Comments Leo Mondale, Managing Director of Inmarsat GX: "We welcome Rockwell Collins to the expanding family of Global Xpress partners. Their strong position in technology and services for US and International Government aeronautical, Commercial Air Transport and Business Aviation markets is well respected.

"Rockwell-Collins will lead a world-class team to bring the unique performance and coverage of Inmarsat's Global Xpress satellite services to the aeronautical marketplace.

"This combination will be integrated into end-to-end equipment and service packages by existing and new distribution partners, including Rockwell Collins, to create a new industry standard for airborne connectivity that will benefit both airlines and their passengers."

Rockwell Collins aircraft electronics are installed in business and commercial aircraft cockpits and cabins of nearly every airline in the world.

Additionally, Rockwell Collins airborne and ground-based communication systems transmit nearly 70 percent of all U.S. and allied military airborne communications. Rockwell Collins' successes in delivering systems for aircraft manufacturer forward-fit installation is unrivaled and will be a key element of their activity for GX systems alongside their proven capabilities for systems retrofit.

"This world class partnership is a game-changer for airborne connectivity," said Steve Timm, vice president and general manager, Flight Information Solutions for Rockwell Collins.

"We are enthusiastic about the combination of our company's solid performance and trusted relationships in commercial and government aviation with the differentiated services of Inmarsat's Global Xpress to achieve a compelling global broadband solution for passengers and operators to truly experience the same level of connectivity in the air, as they do on the ground."