General Dynamics’ Antennas For Harris Pack A Wallop (Hardware Contract)

[SatNews] General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies received an $80 million contract from Harris Corporation to design, manufacture and install six new 16-meter antennas, and upgrade four 9-meter satellite communications antennas at the NOAA Wallops Command and Data Acquisition Station in Wallops, Virginia. They will have a remote backup site in Fairmont, West Virginia. Supporting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) new GOES-R program, the antennas will enable critical command, control, telemetry and sensor data communications between satellites and ground stations.

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) system supports weather forecasting, severe storm tracking and meteorology research. GOES satellite and ground antenna systems provide a continuous stream of environmental data, allowing weather forecasters and others to efficiently track global weather patterns and other meteorological events that can directly affect public safety.

  The antennas that will be upgraded as part of this contract are located at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Maryland. In addition to supporting the new GOES-R program, SATCOM Technologies’ antennas will also be compatible with existing GOES-N through GOES-P series of satellites.

  The antenna deliveries will be aligned with the first GOES-R satellite launch, scheduled for 2015. SATCOM Technologies is supported by its subcontractor Nexcom, Inc., of Melbourne, Florida, which will provide high power amplifiers to the program.

  A part of General Dynamics C4 Systems, General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies is a leading supplier of emergency, strategic and tactical satellite ground terminals for reachback and range extension, including complete communications interoperability and control of fixed and mobile terminals.