The U.S. Air Force on Dec. 17 awarded Raytheon [RTX] a sole source contract worth up to $611.5 million for digital command and control switching systems (CCSS) for military command and control.

“The CCSS is the key component of the Defense Red Switch Network [DRSN], enabling secure and non-secure voice and data telecommunications at multiple levels, large scale voice conferencing capabilities and is inter-operable with other secure devices,” the Air Force said. “CCSS switches are accredited by the Defense Intelligence Agency for top secret/sensitive compartmentalized information [SCI] multi-level security.  The life-cycle logistics support for operational CCSS provide program management, product configuration management, data management, quality control and assurance, contractor logistics support, spare parts replenishment and management, hardware and software support and engineering and technical services.”

DRSN, maintained by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), provides command and control for military forces, the president and secretary of defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, combatant commanders and NATO allies up to the level of Top Secret SCI.