Harris selects Sagetech ADS-B technology for NextGen satellite constellation payloads

WHITE SALMON, Wa., 15 Aug. 2012. Sagetech Corp. of White Salmon, Wa., won a subcontract from Harris Corp. (NYSE:HRS) to assist with the production of integrated Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) payloads. The ADS-B payloads will be delivered to Aireon LLC and be hosted on Iridium NEXT, Iridium’s second-generation satellite constellation, which is expected to advance air traffic management (ATM).

Iridium NEXT, a low-Earth orbiting (LEO) system of interlinked satellites, will begin launching in 2015. Aireon will provide global, space-based ADS-B coverage; Harris will provide space-qualified ADS-B receivers to fly as hosted payloads on Iridium NEXT. Working with Harris, Sagetech will deliver the ADS-B signal processing technology for each of the receivers and the firmware licenses that decode the ADS-B messages from aircraft.

Sagetech technology is expected to play an important role in the development of hosted payload receivers for Aireon, says Sagetech President Kelvin Scribner. "Sagetech's expertise in ADS-B technology positions us to be an important asset on this project."

Sagetech's ADS-B technology is available to the general aviation market via the company's Clarity family of ADS-B receivers.