MELBOURNE, Fla., March 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Just nine
months after the contract award, Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS)
successfully completed the Critical Implementation Review for the
U.S. Army's Modernization of Enterprise Terminals (MET) program.
These next-generation, military satellite communications
terminals will provide the worldwide backbone for high-priority
military communications and missile defense systems.
Completion of this critical review establishes the design
baseline of the terminals. It enables the 10-year program to
move into the next phase, which includes manufacturing, coding,
integration, test and certification of the First Article Test
units. The review was conducted January 12-15 in Melbourne, Florida, by the Project Manager,
Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems team, an
organization within the Program Executive Office for Enterprise
Information Systems.
"Completing this review in only nine months is a major step
forward for the MET program. It establishes a common
understanding of the design baseline and ensures all technical,
program and supportability requirements are properly accounted for
in the design," said Wes Covell,
president of Harris Defense Programs.
Harris is the prime contractor for the Indefinite
Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract valued at a potential
$600 million. The company will
develop, test and certify four unique terminal configurations
during a 30-month, First Article Test phase. In addition,
Harris will provide production hardware under a five-year base
contract, with one five-year option. It will also support
field activities such as site preparation, installation, test,
operations and maintenance. The next major milestone in the
program will be the Test Readiness Review, scheduled for
September 2010.
Under the MET program, Harris will replace up to 80 AN/GSC-52,
AN/GSC-39, AN/FSC-78 and other aging strategic satellite
communications terminals around the world. Their replacements
will be new X-band or simultaneous X- and Ka-band terminals capable
of interfacing with the new Wideband Global Satellite
constellation, as well as with legacy satellite systems.
The new terminals will support Internet Protocol and Dedicated
Circuit Connectivity within the Global Information Grid, providing
critical "reach-back" capability for the warfighter. This
capability enables a soldier in the field to communicate back to
the main base or command, accessing resources not available at that
remote location.
Harris Defense Programs develops, supplies and integrates
communications and information processing products, systems, and
networks for a diverse base of aerospace, terrestrial and maritime
applications supporting U.S. Department of Defense missions.
Harris is committed to delivering leading-edge technologies
that support the military's ongoing transformation to
network-centric communications.
A high-resolution photograph of the GSC-52 terminal is available
at www.harris.com/harris/whats_new/GSC-52.jpg. A
high-resolution photograph of the MET is available at
www.harris.com/harris/whats_new/met.jpg.
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
approximately $5 billion of annual
revenue and more than 15,000 employees — including nearly 7,000
engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing
best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and
services. Additional information about Harris Corporation is
available at www.harris.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
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.
SOURCE Harris Corporation