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Air Force awards protected communications contracts

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tory Osmundson, 325th Communications Squadron client systems technician, performs maintenance on a phone line in the 325th CS Annex on Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Aug. 3, 2016. Whenever a customer has a problem with a phone or computer, Osmundson and his shop are responsible for fixing it. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dustin Mullen/Released)

The Air Force has awarded contracts for protected communications to three companies.

The contracts with L-3, Raytheon and ViaSat are for a protected tactical service field demonstration (PTSFD).

“PTSFD will demonstrate the ability to provide wideband anti-jam communications to tactical users using the Wideband Global Satellite Communications (SATCOM) constellation and commercial SATCOM,” according to the Department of Defense contract announcement.

Raytheon was awarded a $40 million contract, L-3 $38 million and ViaSat $33.2 million.

About 

Michael Peck is a correspondent for Defense News and a columnist for the Center for European Policy Analysis. He holds an M.A. in political science from Rutgers University. Find him at theuncommondefense.com. His email is mikedefense1@gmail.com.