DataPath, Inc., a provider of worldwide satellite and wireless communications networks, has been awarded $12 million by the U.S. Army for Ka band conversion kits, spares kits and technical services that enable DataPath® Satellite Transportable Terminals (STTs) and other systems on the battlefield to operate using the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system. With Ka band conversion kits, vital battlefield satellite communications (SATCOM) terminals can be quickly converted in the field to operate in Ka band over the recently launched WGS system in addition to operating in commercial Ku band.

This $12 million order is funded from exercised options on an existing delivery order, which is a four-year agreement with the Army that has a potential value of up to $225 million for DataPath.  These options are the first exercised options that add to the base award of $100 million that DataPath announced for the same project in January 2009. DataPath began delivering the Ka band conversion kits, spares kits and other equipment and services in January.

"Quickly delivering Ka band conversion kits is a central focus for DataPath," said Steve Lindeman, vice president of Business Operations at DataPath. "By reconfiguring satellite terminals in the field today to operate in Ka band, we have taken an important step to ensure that communications systems accommodate the need for bandwidth and flexibility to support U.S. military operations around the world."

The SATCOM terminals being converted were designed and built by DataPath and deployed by the U.S. Army for the Joint Network Node (JNN)/Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program. DataPath's Ka band solution for JNN/WIN-T has been certified by the U.S. Army Strategic Command for use on the WGS system.

Program Manager WIN-T's Commercial SATCOM Terminal Program at the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command in Fort Monmouth, N.J., awarded the delivery order through the Worldwide Satellite Systems contract.