Army awards $200M for satellite support contract

U.S. Army Sgt. Samantha Dubuis, Senior SATCOM communication systems operator, 578th Signal Company, 302nd Signal Battalion, 21st Signal Brigade Fort Bragg, N.C., makes a radio call on the urban assault course during the Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM) Best Warrior Competition at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., June 10, 2014. The popularity of the Internet of Things has made spectra more difficult to discern. (Spc. Lakendra Stevens/Army)

The Army has awarded Harris Corp. a follow-on contract worth nearly $218 million to support the service’s wideband satellite operations centers and management sites.

The contract — the Wideband Satellite Communications Operations and Technical Support II — will deliver critical communications to war fighters globally, company leaders said in a December press release. WGS satellites are used to provide communication capabilities to U.S. and international forces.

Harris will support global networks and operations center at 21 locations across the globe, providing operations and maintenance, life-cycle engineering, on-site technical assistance, equipment installation, depot-level repair, logistics, cybersecurity and training and sustainment.

The award comes after Harris also executed the first Wideband Satellite Communications Operations and Technical Support contract worth $160 million.

“Harris assists the Army with all facets of wideband SATCOM support, helping to keep these global communications systems performing so that war fighters are protected and get the information they need to stay connected and ensure mission success,” Chris Forseth, vice president and general manager of Harris Space Superiority, said.