Comtech’s office in Chandler, Arizona. Photo: Comtech

Comtech delivered the first round of Enterprise Digital Intermediate Frequency Multi-Carrier (EDIM) modems to the U.S. Army in a $48.6 million contract signed in 2023, the company said on Thursday.

The modems remain in the development phase and are expected to be fielded after final acceptance testing this summer, Comtech said. They are meant to replace aging Enhanced Bandwidth Efficient Modems (EBEM) currently used by Army, Navy, and Air Force satcom operators and will support multiple satellite providers.

Under the contract, Comtech is also developing an EDIM Modem Management System (EMMS) and sustainment services to deliver performance updates over time.

The company said the deal represents a major step towards digitizing and modernizing military satcom and supports the EDIM modem’s final acceptance testing this summer.

“Delivering these first EDIM modems is a major achievement for Comtech,” Comtech President of Satellite and Space Communications Daniel Gizinski commented. “This milestone reflects the dedication and technical excellence of our team and sets the stage for successful integration and deployment in support of the U.S. Army’s satcom modernization goals.”

The company said these modems would be the first ones Digital Intermediate Frequency Interoperability (DIFI)-compliant to be used by the Army, pending final acceptance testing.