GD to Boost Military SatCom Capacity with $119 M

Communication bandwidth for soldiers' network increased with added Ku- and Ka-band terminals

(Newton, N.C., June 5, 2009) -- General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies has received a $119 million modification to an existing delivery order to provide additional satellite communications earth terminals and support services for Increment One of the U.S. Army's Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program.


Under the contract, General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies will provide 293 Satellite Transportable Terminals (STT), 6 Unit Hub SATCOM Trucks (UHST) and 534 Ka-band upgrade kits and spares.

The next-generation STT terminals enable network operation over Ku- or Ka-band satellite frequencies. The new UHST unit hubs provide Ku- or Ka-band access and more modem capacity. Both the STTs and UHSTs are interoperable with satellite communications (SATCOM) units currently in use by the Army.

"The STTs and UHSTs which General Dynamics is delivering to WIN-T provide reliable video, voice and data communications that meet the Army's expanding requirements," said Gary Kanipe, General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies vice president and general manager. "Through our production and refinement of these terminals, we offer a proven solution for mobile tactical SATCOM requirements to the U.S. Army, NATO forces and other U.S. allies."

The General Dynamics delivery order was made through exercised options on an existing World Wide Satellite Systems (WWSS) delivery order, managed by the WIN-T program manager's Commercial Satellite Terminal Program (CSTP) in Ft. Monmouth, N.J. This modification to the existing delivery order brings the contract's total value to date to $378 million for 956 STTs and 17 UHSTs, which represent approximately half of the hardware quantities available on the four-year program.

Source : General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE: GD)