...the communications network that will serve as the cornerstone of NextGen—the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) initiative to transform the U.S. air traffic control system to meet future requirements. Under the National Airspace System Voice System (NVS) contract, Harris will provide a secure, Internet Protocol-based voice communications network based on its VCS21 family of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) voice communication solutions. NVS will be installed in air traffic control (ATC) facilities across the U.S., creating a modern voice network for critical communications between air traffic controllers, pilots and ground personnel.

The VCS21 hosts the proven features of legacy ATC systems, including the current Harris Voice Switching Control System (VSCS), onto an IP platform with enhanced management and control capabilities. VSCS was awarded to Harris in 1992 and is operational today. Harris will integrate voice communications systems at ATC facilities nationwide. The company also will provide remote radio equipment and network integration and management services. A key benefit of the Harris solution is that it will operate as a fully networked voice enterprise, enabling enhanced capabilities for business continuity planning, asset sharing, and future facilities.

Harris has a long history of developing and integrating system solutions for the FAA in support of the NAS. The company is the prime contractor for the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) program, which provides critical voice, data and video communications for NAS operations and mission support functions. FTI securely connects more than 4,300 national and international FAA and DoD facilities, manages more than 26,000 services, and supports more than 50,000 users. In addition to FTI and VSCS, FAA programs developed by Harris include the Weather and Radar Processor, which provides weather information to air traffic controllers in the en-route air traffic control environment; OASIS, which provides integrated weather briefing and flight planning capabilities for preflight weather briefings and in-flight updates; and the Alaskan Satellite Telecommunications Infrastructure program, which provides voice and data communications between the Alaskan ARTCC in Anchorage and 64 regional FAA sites.