Harris wins $37 million U.S. Navy contract for shipboard satellite communications terminals

MELBOURNE, Fla., 10 Oct. 2008.Harris Corp., an international communications and information technology company, won a potential $37 million contract modification by the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., to supply additional multiband shipboard satellite communications terminals for Navy's Arleigh Burke DDG-51 class of guided missile destroyers.

The modification is part of a contract originally awarded to the company in 2000, and increases the overall potential value of the contract to more than $172 million by 2010.

Under terms of the contract, Harris is responsible for systems integration, production, and logistics support for the AN/WSC-6(V)9 Super High Frequency Multiband Shipboard Satellite Communications Terminal (MSSCT).

The Harris-built MSSCT enhances the Navy's wideband satellite communications capability by integrating military x-band and commercial c-band dual-antenna terminals that provide higher throughput required to support satellite-based voice, video, and data communications to meet the challenging global missions of today's surface combatants, says a representative. The system can also be easily upgraded to operate over the Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) System through the installation of a simultaneous X/Ka band feed kit.

Wes Covell, president of Harris Defense Programs, says: "We are very pleased that our work on the WSC-6(V)9 terminal has been extended as it is a critical component of the Navy's overall satellite communications network backbone and a foundation for the ongoing transition to FORCENet."