MCKINNEY, Texas, 4 Oct. 2009. A major U.S. defense subcontractor is taking another step toward developing a wearable computer system to link infantry soldiers to DOD networks on the digital battlefield.

The Raytheon Co. Network Centric Systems segment in McKinney, Texas, delivered 10 Ground Soldier System (GSS) Increment 1 prototype wearable computers in September as part of a rapid development program to deploy rugged computer systems for foot soldiers who must connect to network centric systems.

Raytheon GSS Inc 1 links the infantry leader to the battlefield network for real-time tactical situational awareness. The soldier system incorporates human factors engineering and analysis for a comfortable fit made to endure harsh environments and long warfighter missions.

The Raytheon GSS Inc 1 team, which includes key partners Black Diamond Advanced Technology in Tempe, Ariz., and CHI System Inc. in Fort Washington, Pa., will next support Army limited testing prior to making improvements for final prototype delivery next March.

Black Diamond is perhaps best known for building the SwitchBack ultra-rugged manpack computer, which is sealed to IP67 and meets or exceeds MIL-STD-810F for temperature, temperature shock, shock-vibration, and humidity.

Raytheon is one of three defense contractors developing GSS Increment 1 computer systems (formerly known as the Ground Soldier Ensemble). The other two contractors are General Dynamics C4 Systems in Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Rockwell Collins Inc. in Cedar Rapid Iowa.

The Army awarded contracts to the three companies last April for each company to build 10 GSS Increment 1 prototypes for the Army, and five for the U.S. Marine Corps. Raytheon won a $5.5 million contract, General Dynamics won a $11.8 million contract, and Rockwell Collins won a $5.3 million contract.

For more information contact Raytheon Network Centric Systems online at www.raytheon.com/businesses/ncs.