L-3 Communications Awarded Multimillion-Dollar Contract

New York, NY - L-3 Communications announced recently that its Telemetry-West (L-3 Telemetry-West) division has been awarded a $9.9M contract by the U.S. Air Force to provide the next-generation, crypto-modernization-compliant encryptor and decryptor for satellite telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C). This program will include two configurations - an embeddable solution and a standalone end cryptographic unit (ECU). L-3 Telemetry-West has partnered with L-3's Communication Systems-East (L-3 CS-East) division for this key national security initiative.

As part of the National Security Agency's (NSA) initiative to modernize Department of Defense (DoD) cryptographic devices, the Space TT&C Cryptographic Modernization (CM) Aerospace Vehicle Equipment Increment 1 (AVE I1) program is acquiring new equipment to meet communication security (COMSEC) requirements for future satellite programs. This next-generation one-time programmable COMSEC device will replace the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)-based COMSEC devices being used by existing satellite programs. The AVE I1 will be an NSA Type 1-certified space flight TT&C COMSEC device. It consists of a hardware solution that can be programmed with different algorithms for command and telemetry applications.

Solicitations for the program are believed to have started in January 2006. The current DoD program phase, which includes the delivery of the basic system integration designs, will be completed in April 2008, claims the company. Headquarters Cryptologic Systems Group, San Antonio, TX, is the contracting office (FA8307-06-C-0009).

L-3 Telemetry-West is a provider of airborne, ground and spaceborne payload and telemetry components and systems, as well as tactical intelligence receivers, military High Frequency/Single Side Band (HF/SSB) systems, microwave radios and satellite command and control capabilities. To learn more about L-3 Telemetry-West, you can visit the company's web site at www.L-3Com.com/tw. L-3 CS-East is a supplier and developer of Type 1 secure solutions with a broad portfolio of secure voice, data and encryption products as well as critical enabling technologies, including key management and embedded encryption. To learn more about L-3 CS-East, you can visit the company's web site at www.L-3Com.com/cs-east.

SOURCE: L-3 Communications