L-3 Communications Confirms USSOCOM VSAT Deal
By Jeffrey Hill | July 10, 2012
[Satellite News 07-10-12] L-3 Communications Holdings subsidiary L-3 Global Communications Solutions (GCS) has received a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite systems contract from the Pentagon’s Special Operations Command that is reportedly worth $500 million, the company announced July 10.
The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) deal contracts L-3 GCS to develop and manufacture VSAT satellite systems during the next five years for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Special Operations Forces Deployable Node-Family of Terminals (SDN-Lite FoT) program.
The SDN-Lite FoT aims to provide tactically deployed U.S. Special Operations Forces users with worldwide communications connectivity.
L-3 GCS President Bob Jacobson said the program contract represents significant new satcom equipment business for the subsidiary.
“L-3 GCS is honored to have been selected for this program, which represents new business for our unit and highlights the priority our customer has placed on satcom equipment,” Jacobson said in a statement. “We look forward to a continued productive partnership with USSOCOM, ensuring its deployed users are equipped with the best possible communication systems. L-3 GCS will begin delivering tri-band Hawkeye 3 Lite 1.2-meter terminals and quad-band 2.0-meter terminals later this year, and we are currently ramping up our engineering and production capabilities to meet our customers’ objectives.”
L-3 GCS first announced the deal June 21 as an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide portable satellite-communications gear to the Pentagon for more than five years with a potential value of up to $500 million.
According to an announcement in the U.S. military’s daily contract digest, the minimum guaranteed contract value to L-3 GCS was $7.6 million.
Sen. Charles Schumer, (D-N.Y.) confirmed that the contract was for a Satellite Data Network Family of Terminals (SDN-Lite FoT) that would work to provide automatic satellite tracking and interface on the Pentagon’s common network.
“The high-speed data connectivity terminals will be deployed to forward deployed troops and will be designed and manufactured at L-3 GCS’ facility in Victor, N.Y.,” Schumer said in a statement. “This contract means greater production for the Department of Defense and an economic shot in the arm for L-3 Global Communications Systems and its workers and Ontario County where these terminals are made. This award only confirms that L-3 GCS continues to be a first-class firm doing great work in New York.”
L-3 Global Communications Solutions, formerly GCS until it was acquired by L-3 in 2007, was awarded a similar contract in 2010 with a potential $170 million value for five years for VSAT satellite communications systems and related equipment designed to integrate data, broadband Internet, telephony, multimedia, audio, video and computer networking.
The military contract portfolio that L-3 Global Communications Systems has built this year includes part of a $65.8 million U.S. military contract to provide mobile satellite services and a $50 million increase to a $207 million U.S. Special Operations Command contract for satellite antennas.