Satellite communications equipmentmanufacturer Harris [NYSE: HRS] has completed testing the first of three ship-sets of Ka-band spot antennas it will supply to Boeing Satellite Systems as part of the Department of Defense wideband gapfiller satellite (WGS) program.

The WGS program, jointly funded by the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army, will provide a high-capacity satellite system to support military operations with wideband communications capabilities. WGS will serve as a bridge to the advanced wideband satellite system, a high-capacity tactical communications system planned for implementation in 2009.

Under terms of the contract, Harris will deliver 30 duplex Ka-band spot antennas for integration onto three WGS satellites. The steerable, solid graphite offset antennas–10 per satellite–will provide critical communications links to user terminals on the ground, enabling WGS satellites to transmit and receive digital-quality voice, data and imagery.