DULUTH, Ga., 7 Jan. 2009. DataPath Inc., a provider of satellite and wireless communications networks, won a $100 million contract from the U.S. Army to manufacture and integrate Ka-band conversion kits and provide spares kits that enable DataPath Satellite Transportable Terminals (STTs) and other systems on the battlefield to operate using the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system.
The satellite communications (SATCOM) terminals being converted were designed and built by DataPath and deployed by the U.S. Army for the Joint Network Node (JNN)/Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program. With all options exercised over a base year and three option years, the agreement could total as much as $225 million for DataPath.
The WGS system, with its first satellite launched in October 2007, increases the high-bandwidth communications capacity available to support U.S. military operations worldwide by adding Ka and X band capacity to supplement limited military X band and commercial Ku band. This will be the first deployment of large numbers of WGS-capable, Ka band SATCOM terminals for the JNN/WIN-T program. DataPath's Ka band solution for JNN/WIN-T has been certified by the U.S. Army Strategic Command (ARSTRAT) for use on the WGS system.
Under this delivery order, DataPath will provide and install Ka band conversion kits on approximately 800 deployed DataPath STTs and 18 Unit Hub SATCOM Trucks (UHSTs). DataPath will also provide spares kits for the retrofitted terminals. In addition, DataPath will provide and install modem upgrades to hundreds of JNN/WIN-T SATCOM terminals, including STTs, UHSTs and master reference terminals (MRTs), to improve throughput and add flexibility for the future architecture of JNN/WIN-T.
"Using the increased SATCOM capacity provided by WGS is a critical capability for the U.S. military, and supporting that is central to DataPath's role in developing innovative communications systems for warfighters," said Tom Dyer, chairman, president and CEO of DataPath. "This agreement builds on our experience and success deploying JNN/WIN-T Increment One with the U.S. Army. It is a significant win in response to our focused efforts to rapidly develop Ka band solutions, and we are proud to have the opportunity to ensure that warfighters get the communications equipment they need on the battlefield now."
Program Manager WIN-T's Commercial SATCOM Terminal Program at the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command in Fort Monmouth, N.J., awarded the delivery order through the Worldwide Satellite Systems contract.
