DataPath will design satellite communication network for Army and Marine Corps

Dec. 5, 2005
DULUTH, Ga., 5 Dec. 2005. DataPath, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command in Fort Monmouth, N.J. has awarded DataPath a $42.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for custom satellite earth terminals and associated services.

DULUTH, Ga., 5 Dec. 2005. DataPath, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command in Fort Monmouth, N.J. has awarded DataPath a $42.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for custom satellite earth terminals and associated services.

Under the terms of the contract, DataPath will deliver DataPath ET 3000 Portable trailer-based satellite earth terminals and DataPath DKET 5000 Transportable self-contained satellite earth terminals. DataPath will also provide the Army with associated integrated logistics, depot as well as technical and engineering support to meet the service's unique mission requirements.

This award extends the Army's Joint Network Node (JNN) initiative to provide enhanced communications services to multiple National Guard Units in Iraq and provides additional capabilities to the Marine Corps' Video Storage Wide Area Network (VSWAN) and Logistics Support Wide Area Network (LSWAN) initiatives. DataPath solutions provide a cohesive interoperable IT infrastructure for both the Army and the Marine Corps.

Deployed extensively in Iraq, the JNN initiative is a network-centric communications architecture which provides portable communications to the U.S. Army Third Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, Fourth Infantry Division and 10th Mountain Division.

DataPath recently announced a $96 million contract for additional JNN deployments to the First Cavalry Division, the 25th Infantry Division, the 82nd Airborne Division and multiple Army National Guard units.

VSWAN provides the Marine Corps with in-theater visibility and intelligence to conduct reconnaissance, coordinate mission planning as well as fine-tune air and artillery targeting. The initiative delivers real-time communications and provides storage and retrieval capabilities via video-on-demand to support strategic analysis and command requirements. LSWAN provides the Marine Corps with network-centric supply chain capabilities to serve the logistics requirements of warfighters on the frontline.

"The U.S. military continues to march to embrace a net-centric operating model," said Andy Mullins, CEO of DataPath. "Expanding our involvement in the Army JNN initiative and the Marine Corps VSWAN and LSWAN initiatives, this award underscores DataPath's ability to meet joint requirements and highlights the military's increasing focus on interoperability. We are proud that the military continues to count on DataPath for our proven record of success in delivering mission-critical video, voice and data to the edge of the network."

DataPath is providing a solution built on two custom versions of its DataPath ET 3000 Portable for battlefield communications to multiple Army National Guard units and the Marine Corps. This provides a mobile satellite telecommunications platform configurable for operation in Ku band frequency and for simultaneous Single Channel per Carrier (SCPC) / Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) carrier transmission. DataPath is also delivering two custom versions of the DataPath DKET 5000 Transportable to the Army to enhance the existing hub infrastructure in Iraq.

The DataPath 3000 is a compact trailer-based satellite earth terminal that delivers a tactical, rugged communications gateway to battalions for Communications On The Quick Halt (COTQH). A third-generation earth terminal, the DataPath 3000 is specifically designed for sustained and reliable field operation with minimal maintenance by forward-deployed warfighters. The DataPath 5000 base camp communications solution is a self-contained earth terminal that enables secure, robust voice and data communications where no infrastructure exists. This all-in-one earth terminal can be transported on a flat-bed truck, providing full earth terminal capabilities to fulfill immediate communications requirements.

DataPath's product and service offerings include custom, fixed, transportable, mobile and portable satellite earth terminals; earth terminal network and system management software; and a full spectrum of engineering and support services. The company's rapidly deployable voice, video and Internet communications solutions deliver mission-critical connectivity in extreme environments to government and commercial customers around the world, including the Army, Air Force, Marines and the Army National Guard. DataPath solutions are deployed extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan to support Army and Marine Corps peacekeeping activities.

DataPath is a global telecommunications systems integrator specializing in satellite earth terminals and network solutions. DataPath's rapid deployment voice, video and Internet communications solutions deliver mission-critical connectivity in extreme environments. Founded in 1996, DataPath serves government and commercial customers throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Privately held, DataPath is headquartered in Duluth, Ga., and maintains offices in Fort Monmouth, N.J., Tampa, Fla., the Philippines and Europe. For more information, see www.datapath.com.

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