U.S. Army Awards $72.9-M Contract to DataPath for Joint Network Node Program

DULUTH, Ga., June 8, 2006/Satnews Daily/ ― The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) in Fort Monmouth, N.J., has awarded DataPath, Inc. a $72.9 million firm-fixed-price contract to provide specialized satellite earth terminals and support services for the Joint Network Node (JNN) program.

DataPath said the contract includes 92 DataPath ET 3000 Portables, which the U.S. Army refers to as Satellite Communications Transportable Terminals (STT), and two DataPath DKET 4530Ku Mobiles, which the U.S. Army refers to as Unit Hub SATCOM trucks.

The JNN program provides reliable and portable communications to the U.S. Joint Forces deployed to Iraq, including the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry, 101st Airborne, 4th Infantry and 10th Mountain Division, among others. Since the initial implementation of the program in 2004 to support the U.S. Army's transformation to a global, network-centric force, DataPath said it has delivered high-quality, ground-based satellite communications networks that provide U.S. forces with quick access to high-bandwidth communications capabilities, regardless of how remote or extreme the environment.

John Lane, project leader of Commercial SATCOM Terminal Program in the Army, said satellite communications networks offer flexibility and high bandwidth for more advanced applications, no matter where our forces are located. “The JNN program has

been a tremendous success in moving the network out to the end-user of mission-critical information, transforming the speed of deployment and coordination capabilities of our forces,” he said.

DataPath will also extend its training and operations and maintenance support for the JNN program with an additional 29 personnel contracted for in the agreement. These support personnel will begin training with U.S. forces pre-deployment, and will then deploy with them to the theater of operations to help manage and optimize communications networks. DataPath's Integrated Logistics Support team now has more than 50 employees deployed in Iraq for the program.

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