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Harris has won a $133m contract from the US Navy to supply shipboard satellite communications terminals, which will give crews access to high-bandwidth voice and data communications.
As part of the eight-year deal, Harris will deliver up to 120 new high-data-rate terminals, adding to the 70 delivered since 2008 under a commercial broadband satellite programme (CBSP) unit level variant (ULV) agreement.
The latest order, along with the CBSP ULV and Force Level Variant awards, brings the total potential value of contracts that have been awarded to Harris to more than $250m.
The CBSP programme seeks to provide the navy with worldwide, commercial end-to-end telecommunications services.
Harris government communications systems defence programmes vice-president and general manager Ed Zoiss said: "These Harris terminals provide the navy with access to the high-bandwidth services essential to mission-critical communications and to morale.
"Harris is delivering the next generation of military and commercial satellite capabilities to the navy fleet."
Aimed at bolstering mission communications and morale of shipboard crew, the 1.3m-long terminals offer X-band operation over active military satellites, in addition to optional military/commercial Ka-band operation for satellite systems installed in the future.
Supporting vital mission requirements, the terminals offer enhanced high-bandwidth services, including faster internet access and video communications onboard small combatant and support ships.
They are also in use on the navy’s amphibious assault ships.
Image: The US Navy’s Wasp-class amphibious assault ship. Photo: courtesy of Schlendrian.
