Raytheon Network Centric Systems will modify existing naval satellite terminals to link with the U.S. Air Force’s Enhanced Polar Satellite (EPS) system under a $19 million contract with the U.S. Navy, the company announced June 13.
The EPS will provide secure, jam-proof links to ships and submarines operating at extreme northern latitudes starting around 2016. Consisting of extremely high frequency transponders hosted aboard classified satellites in high-inclination orbits, it will replace the Interim Polar System and provide higher data rates.
“This increased capability will give the Navy more mission flexibility and significantly increased capacity to provide protected voice, data and video communications supporting strategic and tactical missions,” Scott Whatmough, vice president of Integrated Communication Systems at Raytheon Network Centric Systems, said in a prepared statement.
Under the contract, Raytheon is making software and systems engineering changes to existing Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT) systems, which are designed to connect naval vessels with multiple satellite systems, the company said. Raytheon won the Navy’s $960 million NMT contract in 2007.
