MELBOURNE, Fla., 11 May 2005. Harris Corp. today announced that it has been awarded a $35 million contract modification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to upgrade the voice communications displays used by the nation's air traffic controllers as part of the existing Voice Switching and Control System (VSCS) contract that the company was awarded in 1991.
Under the terms of the VSCS Display Module Replacement (VDMR) contract modification, Harris will replace more than 8,000 cathode tube-based displays with modern, flat-panel technology. The upgraded displays will provide enhanced functionality for air traffic controllers and significantly lower equipment lifecycle costs for the agency.
The Harris-developed VSCS, based on independent, distributed processors and switches, allows air traffic controllers to establish air-to-ground and ground-to-ground communications with pilots as well as other air traffic controllers. The system offers unprecedented voice quality, dynamic reconfiguration capabilities to meet changing needs, and an operational availability of greater than 0.9999999, which equates to less than three seconds of downtime per year.
"We are very proud of our longstanding association with the FAA under the VSCS contract," said Al Dukes, president of the Civil Programs business unit of Harris Corporation's Government Communications Systems Division (GCSD). "This upgrade reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that this critical element of the National Airspace System infrastructure continues to provide the FAA with the most advanced and cost-effective solution available."
Harris GCSD, one of four divisions within Harris Corp., 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., which also provides tactical radio, microwave, and broadcast products and systems, serves customers in more than 150 countries. For more information, see www.harris.com.
