Harris Awarded Potential $12-M Contract to Provide Encryption Device for Future U.S. Army Satellite Terminals

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Dec. 18, 2006/Satnews Daily/ ― The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) based in Fort Monmouth, N.J. has awarded Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) a contract to develop an encryption device that could be used to meet the communication security needs of future satellite terminals.

Harris said these satellite terminals will be capable of operating with military and commercial satellites that are planned to be operational by 2010. The initial contract value to Harris is approximately $5 million, with a potential value of $12 million.

The company said its Harris Sierra II-based Advanced Cryptographic Module solution will provide the cryptographic core used in a variety of ground-based satellite terminals in support of the higher data rates and increased Information Security (INFOSEC) demands imposed by modern waveforms and increased security guidelines. The development is part of the CERDEC-sponsored Programmable Objective Encryption Technologies (POET) Program.

“The Sierra II-based Advanced Cryptographic Module solution will be designed to meet the POET program's immediate need for a robust and affordable programmable encryption solution,” said Dick Rzepkowski, Harris RF Communications Division vice president, Government Systems and Programs. “The programming simplicity of Sierra II helps to support a fast development schedule. Sierra II also provides significant advantages in size, weight and power over other technologies.”

Harris explained that the Advanced Cryptographic Module will work in conjunction with Host INFOSEC Adapter (HIA) interface hardware and software that will provide a software communications architecture (SCA)-compliant terminal interface and SCA-compliant security services. The HIA also will provide protocol support for OSI layers 2 and 3 for complex protocols such as HAIPE and LEF. The POET HIA/ACM pair can function in either a Type-1 or non-Type-1 application and will provide legacy and future COMSEC/TRANSEC terminal functionality.

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