U.S. Air Force awards $75 million satellite communications contract
The contract, valued in excess of $75 million, is for development and production of the Minuteman Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network program upgrade (MMPU). Raytheon began work on the current MMP solution for the Air Force in 1999 as part of a study contract.
The award, announced by the Department of Defense, covers protected satellite communications and advanced extremely high-frequency (AEHF) communications across the services.
MMPU provides the mission flexibility, data throughput and transmission assurance that allows Air Force and national command and control networks to extend seamlessly from the president and other national command authorities to operational forces.
As part of the MMPU contract, Raytheon Network Centric Systems will develop, deliver, and support an advanced satellite communication system of ground-based communication terminals. The Air Force expects to field the terminals for operational test and evaluation in late 2009, which is consistent with Department of Defense’s plans to have its AEHF satellite constellation in operation in 2010.
Waltham, Mass.-based Raytheon specializes in electronics, mission systems integration and command-and-control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services for defense, homeland security and other government markets.
