18 FeB 03. Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (Nasdaq: CMTL – News) announced the definitization of a contract with a major U.S. prime contractor for satellite-based location tracking and messaging systems and services. The $23.5m contract, which was awarded to the Company’s Maryland-based subsidiary, Comtech Mobile Datacom Corp., involves the integration of Comtech’s mobile terminal transceivers into the prime’s command and control systems that will provide terrestrial line-of-sight and satellite capability for messaging and position reporting to the U.S. Army. Comtech’s efforts include the supply of mobile terminal transceivers, the lease of satellite capacity, operation of the satellite packet data network, and associated systems support and maintenance. Comtech has been working on this project since October 2002 pursuant to a letter subcontract. Performance will continue through February 2004.
The terminals used in this application are similar to those that Comtech provides to the Army Logistics Command pursuant to its multi-year Movement Tracking Systems (MTS) contract which has a potential value of $418m. The network to be used for the application will engage similar hub and switch systems as are deployed for the MTS program. Contracts for satellite capacity have been placed with commercial satellite operators to secure the necessary geographic coverage to complement Comtech’s existing coverage of North America, and the services over these systems are up and operating.
Fred Kornberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comtech Telecommunications Corp., said, “This contract represents the first significant military award outside of the Army Logistics Command MTS contract. We will continue to pursue other opportunities for battle command applications.”
A full report of this story from Scott Gourley will appear in our Feb/March web issue of BATTLESPACE News.