PALO ALTO, Calif., 28 Jan. 2009. Communications & Power Industries Inc. (CPI), a subsidiary of CPI International Inc., a provider of microwave, radio frequency, power, and control solutions for critical defense, communications, medical, scientific, and other applications, has been selected by Raytheon Company and awarded an initial contract of more than $1 million to support the preproduction phase of the U.S. Navy's Multiband Terminal (NMT) program.

Through a competitive-bidding process, Raytheon Network Centric Systems selected CPI's high-power X-band SuperLinear(TM) traveling wave tube amplifier for the NMT military satellite communications (satcom) program. If all option years' production and spares are exercised, CPI expects the total cumulative value of the approximately four-year program to be in excess of $20 million.

Under a contract from the U.S. Navy, Raytheon Network Centric Systems developed and supports the NMT advanced satcom system, which includes shipboard and shore-based communication terminals for the transformational communications component of the U.S. Navy's FORCEnet architecture. The NMT solution, which is expected to provide the next generation of satcom systems and replace existing satcom solutions, adds new maritime communications capability to ships, submarines and shore stations, says a representative.

"We are delighted by Raytheon's selection of CPI high-power amplifiers to support such a critical military satcom program," says Joe Caldarelli, chief executive officer of CPI. "CPI's high-power SuperLinear traveling wave tube amplifier provides exceptional power efficiency, extremely long life, and advanced control and monitor capabilities while operating in a rugged environment, and we are proud to provide this advanced, state-of-the-art technology for the U.S. Navy's Multiband Terminals."

CPI's Satcom Division and Microwave Power Products Division will perform work on this contract. CPI expects to make the first shipments under this contract in the first half of fiscal 2009.