Harris [HRS] has been awarded a 10-year, $600 million contract for the Army’s Modernization of Enterprise Terminals (MET) program, the next-generation military satellite communications (SATCOM) terminals that will provide the worldwide backbone for high-priority military communications and missile defense systems, the company reported.
As prime contractor, Harris will develop, test and certify four unique terminal configurations during a 30-month, First Article Test phase. In addition, Harris will provide production hardware under the five-year base contract, with five additional option years, and will support field activities such as site preparation, installation, test, operations, and maintenance. The program will be managed by Team DCATS-Project Manager, Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems (PMDCATS), Harris said.
Harris will replace up to 80 AN/GSC-52, AN/GSC-39, AN/FSC-78 and other aging strategic satellite communications terminals around the world with new, simultaneous X- and Ka-band terminals capable of interfacing with the new Wideband Global Satellite constellation as well as with legacy satellite systems. The new terminals will support Internet Protocol and Dedicated Circuit Connectivity within the Global Information Grid, providing critical reach-back capability for the warfighter, according to the company.
“MET leverages our long and successful track record of success on the AN/GSC-52 terminal modernization program to provide PMDCATS with an advanced, strategic terminal architecture that achieves a high level of equipment and integration commonality, thereby lowering acquisition and logistics costs,” Wes Covell, president of Defense Programs for Harris Government Communications Systems, said.
Harris teammates on the MET program include General Dynamics [GD] SATCOM Technologies, a leader in X- and Ka-band satellite communications products; O’Neil & Associates, a supplier of world-class logistics and interactive, electronic technical manuals; and Janus Research Group, an innovator in training simulation, added Harris.
The hardware will include various fixed ground terminal configurations; a hardened, transportable terminal; and a small terminal suitable for rooftop mounting. General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies will develop the X-band antenna feed as well as a dual/simultaneous X- and Ka-band antenna feed capable of meeting the stringent requirements for low intermodulation products. They will also develop 12.2-meter antennas for fixed ground terminals, 7.2-meter antennas for transportable terminals, and 4.8-meter antennas for small terminals. The first terminal is scheduled for fielding in early 2011, the company said.