12 Feb 02. DRS Technologies, Inc. (AMEX: DRS – news) announced today that ithas received new contracts to provide two variations of the NATO StandardAgreement (STANAG) Link-11 Data Terminal Set (DTS) for U.S. andinternational naval vessels.
Link-11 operates on High Frequency (HF), Ultra High Frequency (UHF) andsatellite communications channels to allow the exchange of real-timemilitary tactical data needed to attain and maintain information dominancein the 21st century.
For these orders, with a combined value of $4.4m, DRS will produce and provide technical support for Link-11 DTS, including the multi-channel Common Shipboard Data Terminal Set (CSDTS), for 25 nations throughout Europe, Asia, South Asia, Australia, South America and the Middle East. Work for these awards will be performed by the company’s DRS Communications Company unit in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania. Product deliveries are expected to be completed by 2003, with technical support to continue throughout the products’ life cycles.
“These awards strengthen our reputation as the world leader in Link-11 advanced communications technology solutions,” said Mark S. Newman, chairman, president and chief executive officer of DRS Technologies. “As developers and manufacturers of this product line for more than 15 years with over 1,700 systems deployed worldwide today, the company is well positioned to meet the growing demand for fourth generation Link-11 equipment, both at home and abroad.
Providing increased clarity, accuracy, continuity and commonality, the datacommunications technology incorporated in Link-11 will remain a key element supporting information dominance well into the 21st century.”The Link-11 DTS systems produced under these contracts will be deployed on avariety of naval vessels, including Nimitz class aircraft carriers,Ticonderogaclass Aegis cruisers, Arleigh Burke class Aegis destroyers, Tarawa classamphibious assault ships and Los Angeles class submarines.
Incorporating network communication techniques and standard message formatting, Link-11 provides military forces with tactical advantages by exchanging digital information among shipboard, airborne and land-based tactical data systems. Currently, naval fleets use a number of different data terminal sets that have only the Conventional Link Eleven Waveform (CLEW). The new Data Terminal Sets from DRS will provide all of the capabilities of the previous versions of Link-11 Data Terminal Sets, in addition to satellite transmission capabilities, multi-frequency enhancements that will enable operation of up to four parallel channels among Participating Units (PUs), and the new Single-tone Link-11 Waveform (SLEW) developed by DRS.