HRS Harris Corp.

MELBOURNE, Fla., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), an international communications and information technology company, has been awarded a three-year, $66 million contract by the U.S. Navy for pre-production and test of the Ku-band Common Data Link (CDL) Hawklink system for the MH-60R Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) helicopter. Hawklink is a high-speed digital data link that transmits tactical video, radar, acoustic and other sensor data from MH-60R helicopters to their host surface ships. Beginning with this contract award, the potential value of the CDL Hawklink production program for Harris could exceed $350 million by 2015 if the Navy exercises all options to equip as many as 350 aircraft and ships, including Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers. "We are very pleased to be entering into the production phase of this key program that will provide the Navy with a critical enabler for transitioning to a network-centric architecture for advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance networking," said Sheldon Fox, vice president and general manager of Department of Defense Programs, Harris Government Communications Systems Division. "We look forward to continuing our close working relationship established with the Navy and BAE Systems during the design and development phase of the program." Under terms of this contract, Harris will act as the prime contractor, working with BAE Systems to prepare for production of AN/SRQ-4 (Ku) field change kits to retrofit ships, and to provide AN/ARQ-58 Radio Terminal Sets for MH-60R aircraft. The work also includes integrated logistics support and analysis, sustaining engineering, training, non-recurring and recurring engineering changes, and technical, administrative, and financial data. This award is the culmination of a multi-year development effort between the Navy, Harris and BAE Systems that began in 1999 to prove the feasibility of using Tactical Common Data Links for the LAMPS application. As teammates during the development effort, Harris and BAE Systems successfully demonstrated an operational system consisting of both an airborne terminal and a shipboard terminal. The MH-60R LAMPS helicopter will provide battle-group protection and add significant capability during coastal, littoral and regional conflicts. The AN/ARQ-58 CDL Hawklink will replace existing C-band AN/ARQ-44 data links on LAMPS helicopters and replace the existing C-band AN/SRQ-4 link on surface ships with the AN/SRQ-4 (Ku). Current LAMPS-equipped support ship classes include DDG 51, FFG 7 and CG 47. With the ability to transmit over distances greater than 100 nautical miles at data rates exceeding 21 megabits per second, the CDL Hawklink will eliminate interference with Cooperative Engagement Capability, improve fleet interoperable communications, improve bandwidth capability of the LAMPS system, and facilitate transition to a network-centric architecture as the baseline for fleet CDL interoperability. About Harris Corporation Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has annual sales of about $4 billion and more than 14,000 employees -- including more than 6,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications(TM) products, systems, and services for global markets, including government communications, RF communications, broadcast communications, and wireless transmission network solutions. Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at http://www.harris.com/ Sound interesting? Find great jobs at Harris: http://www.careers.harris.com/ Forward-Looking Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Such statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements about the expected value of the program to Harris are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. Other factors that may impact the company's results and forward-looking statement may be disclosed in the company's filings with the SEC. Harris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. DATASOURCE: Harris Corporation CONTACT: Sleighton Meyer, Government Communications Systems Division, +1-321-727-6514 or , or Brent Dietz, Corporate Headquarters, +1-321-724-3554 or Web site: http://www.harris.com/

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