General Dynamics to provide Ku-band satellite on-the-move antenna to U.S. Army

June 1, 2007
U.S. Army personnel have issued a World Wide Satellite Services contract to General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies in Newton, N.C., to provide warfighters with Ku-band on-the-move satellite communications terminals.

By Courtney E. Howard

NEWTON, N.C. - U.S. Army personnel have issued a World Wide Satellite Services contract to General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies in Newton, N.C., to provide warfighters with Ku-band on-the-move satellite communications terminals.

The order-issued through the PM Warfighter Information Network-Tactical under contracting authority of the Communications and Electronics Command at Fort Monmouth, N.J.-calls for General Dynamics engineers to provide a single Warrior Model 20-20 Satcom-on-the-move (SOTM) antenna system for verification and testing.

Additional purchases are expected to follow successful tests, and raise the potential value of the award and all options to $28 million over three years.

U.S. Army engineers plan to install the SOTM system on high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWV), Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and the Stryker infantry combat vehicle, shown above.
Click here to enlarge image

The World Wide Satellite Systems five-year, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity procurement program is managed by the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical and Defense Communications and Army Transmission System Program Manager Offices. Its goal is to provide communications systems capable of overcoming existing and projected bandwidth constraints for Department of Defense programs worldwide and in support of federal communications missions, including disaster relief and homeland security efforts.

“Reliable, easy-to-deploy communications products are vital to supporting tactical missions,” says Gary Kanipe, vice president of General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies. “General Dynamics is the original equipment manufacturer for the VertexRSI antennas and electronic products that comprise these terminals, ensuring a reliable SATCOM-on-the-move communications solution.”

The SOTM equipment, designed and manufactured by General Dynamics engineers, is capable of transmitting and receiving data at speeds up to 1.54 megabits per second in Ku-band. It is designed to provide unit commanders with robust satellite communications in moving vehicles, ensuring mobile access to mission-critical video, data, and imagery.

Additional information General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies is available online at www.gdsatcom.com.

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