BOEING GETS $160 MILLION CONTRACT FOR MILITARY SATELLITES
Boeing Space Systems (BSS) received $160 million contract potentially worth $1.3 billion to develop high-capacity communication system for U.S. Air Force and Army by 2005, company said Thurs. Harris Corp., Logicon and ITT Industries are working with Boeing on project. Fixed-price agreement calls for first satellite to be launched in 2004 at cost of $160.3 million. If Pentagon exercises its options for 5 more satellites, business could be worth $1.3 billion. Boeing is using its new 702 model satellite bus and associated spacecraft and payload equipment. Team of technicians is expected to provide associated control equipment for both payload and spacecraft.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
Contract is for new Wideband Gapfiller Satellite (WGS) system. Proposed system will be used to support military with newer and far greater capabilities than are provided by current systems, Boeing said. Program is being managed by Boeing Systems. Procuring agency is Air Force Material Command Space & Missile Systems Center. Operational and logistics support and training are included in program.
WGS program will support Dept. of Defense (DoD) communication services currently provided by Defense Satellite Communication System, which offers Super High Frequency (SHP) wideband communication and by Global Broadcast Service, which uses direct broadcast satellite technology to provide critical information to U.S. and allied forces. Following first launch in 2004, WGS will serve as bridge to Advanced Wideband Satellite System (AWS). AWS is tactical communications system planned for 2008. Project partner Harris Corp. provides wideband satellite communication ground terminals, terminal and payload interfaces. ITT supplies wideband satellite communications network management and control systems. Logicon provides satellite communications network management software development and operations. SAIC offers satellite communication systems engineering and communication architecture.
This is first major contract award for BSS since it started operation in Oct. (CD Oct 10 p6) with acquisition of Hughes Space & Communications. Contract is expected to give Boeing sales “big jolt” as company attempts to “find new and innovative” satellite communications systems, industry source said: “History has shown us much of what the military uses first is passed on later to the business sector.” Boeing spokesman said things worked opposite way: “Commercial satellites have really advanced technologically in the last decade. The military saw what we were doing. The reason we won this contract was our commercial business.” However, he said he didn’t want to minimize influence of military on private sector. “Clearly, this [contract] will help us.”