MELBOURNE, Fla., 19 Sept. 2005. Harris Corp. today announced that it was awarded a $16 million contract by the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey, for the first production lot of Large Aperture Multiband Deployable Antennas (LAMDAs) for use by the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps.
The potential value of the contract could reach $100 million over the next four years as up to 200 antennas are delivered.
The LAMDA is an enhanced version of the field-proven Harris Lightweight High Gain X-band Antenna (LHGXA), a rugged, highly mobile tactical antenna deployed and operated by military personnel worldwide. The LAMDA's primary function is to provide field units with a highly mobile, user-friendly, large aperture tri-band (C-, X-, and Ku-band) antenna that will withstand the rigors of a harsh operating environment. The LAMDA supports tri-band operations by utilizing interchangeable antenna feeds that can be rapidly installed by operators in the field.
The LAMDA incorporates a 4.9-meter (16-foot) diameter reflector mounted on an HMMWV-towable trailer, yet has the equivalent performance characteristics of a 20-foot reflector due to its shaped, offset-fed design. Rugged, yet lightweight outer panels allow a three-person crew to set up or teardown the antenna in less than 45 minutes. The LAMDA operates with DSCS, WGS, NATO, Skynet, XTAR, and Intelsat satellite constellations.
"Harris is a world leader in satellite communications antennas and payloads, and we have applied our extensive experience in this area to the development of the LAMDA," said Dan Pearson, president of the Department of Defense business unit of Harris Corporation's Government Communications Systems Division (GCSD).
"This new multiband antenna provides enhanced operational flexibility, greater mission data rates, improved link reliability, and significant user satellite lease cost savings due to the antenna's size and performance capabilities."
Harris GCSD conducts advanced research studies, develops prototypes, and produces and supports state-of-the-art, assured communications solutions and information systems that solve the mission-critical challenges of its military and government customers, while serving as the technology base for the company's diverse commercial businesses.
Harris Corp. is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. With headquarters in Melbourne, Fla., the company has annual sales of over $3 billion and employs 12,600 men and women, including 5,500 engineers and scientists. The company's four operating divisions serve markets for government communications, tactical radio, broadcast, and microwave systems. For more information, see www.harris.com.
