The Navy this week awarded Harris [HRS] a potential five-year, $77 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for development and production of multiband satellite communications terminals that will provide high-speed communications for military personnel serving onboard cruisers and destroyers, the company said.
Under the IDIQ contract, the company received an initial award valued at $17.5 million.
Harris will supply up to 55 1.3-meter satellite communications terminals with X- and Ku-band capabilities for the Navy’s Commercial Broadband Satellite Program (CBSP) Unit Level Variant. The higher bandwidth capacity of these terminals will enable the Navy to provide high-speed Internet access and video communications onboard destroyers and other unit level ships, according to the company.
“High-bandwidth satellite communications are a core competency of Harris. These SATCOM terminals will significantly enhance the Navy’s ability to offer shipboard personnel access to Internet services, thereby playing a key role in supporting programs that maintain high morale and wellbeing,” Wes Covell, president of Harris Defense Programs, said. “We are very proud that the Navy has again selected Harris as its provider of shipboard communications systems.”
On May 28, Harris was awarded a potential five-year, $85 million IDIQ contract from the Navy for multiband satellite communications terminals for aircraft carriers and other large deck ships, the company said.
Harris will supply 2.7-meter satellite communications terminals with C- and Ku-band capabilities for the Navy’s CBSP Force Level Variant. The new terminals will replace existing Harris AN/WSC-8 terminals that have provided shipboard C-band communications for the Navy for more than 10 years, the company added.