The WGS program will provide a high-capacity satellite system, jointly funded by the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army, to support the warfighter with newer and far greater wideband communications capabilities than those provided by current systems. The announcement was made during the 18th National Space Symposium, held April 8-11, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"Boeing is a key customer for Harris and we are pleased to support them on the WGS program," said Bob Henry, president, Harris Government Communications Systems Division (GCSD). "Our antenna program is progressing as planned and we look forward to the day when WGS satellites equipped with Harris antennas will help to deliver unmatched communications capabilities to the 21st Century warfighter."

Under terms of the contract option, which adds to the deliveries for the first and second satellites, Harris will prepare to deliver a set of Ka-band antennas for the third WGS satellite. The antennas will be delivered to BSS in El Segundo, California, for integration onto the satellite.

The 10 steerable, solid graphite offset antennas on each satellite provide the critical communications link to user terminals, enabling WGS satellites to securely transmit and receive digital-quality voice, data and imagery. The WGS Ka-band antennas will be ready to integrate onto the Boeing 702 satellite bus, providing a relatively simple plug-and-play interface.

In a separate contract action in January 2001, Boeing awarded Harris a $300,000 contract to begin engineering and technical support work to ensure that existing ground terminals will be compatible with new WGS satellite communications payloads.

The value of the ground segment work for Harris could increase to $7 million over the next five years if options for up to six WGS satellites are exercised, bringing the potential overall value of WGS system-related contracts for Harris to $37 million by 2006.

The WGS program will augment DoD communications services currently provided by the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS), which provides super high frequency (SHF) wideband communications, and the Global Broadcast Service (GBS), which uses direct broadcast satellite technology to provide critical information to U.S. military and allied forces.

With an initial launch in early 2004, WGS will serve as a bridge to the Advanced Wideband Satellite system, a high-capacity tactical communications system currently planned for the 2009 timeframe.

Harris GCSD conducts advanced research studies, develops prototypes, and produces and supports state-of-the-art, highly reliable communications and information systems that solve the mission-critical communications challenges of its military and government customers, as well as provides the technology base for the company's diverse commercial businesses.

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