According to an announcement in the U.S. military’s daily contract digest, the minimum guaranteed contract value to L-3 Global Communications Solutions is $7.6 million. The portable satellite-communications gear will be provided to U.S. Special Forces in operation.

   L-3 Global Communications Systems President Bob Jacobson said his company expects to begin delivering its Hawkeye 3 hardware later this year. “We are currently ramping up our engineering and production capabilities to meet our customers’ objectives,” Jacobson said.

   Sen. Charles Schumer, (D-N.Y.) confirmed that the contract was for a Satellite Data Network Family of Terminals (SDN-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 separate 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.