Communications & Power Industries, Inc. (CPI) has been awarded a $1.4 million contract to design, develop and test high-power Ka-band traveling wave tubes (TWTs) and amplifiers for the U.S. Air Force in order to support airborne communications applications. CPI, a subsidiary of CPI International, Inc. [Nasdaq: CPII], provides microwave, radio frequency, power and control solutions for critical defense, communications, medical and scientific applications.

The two-year, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract was awarded by the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York. Work on the contract will be performed by CPI's Satcom Division, Microwave Power Products Division and Beverly Microwave Division.

"We expect the development work CPI is doing for this military communications program will result in significant technology advances for high-power Ka-band amplifiers and for airborne communications applications," said Andy Tafler, president of CPI's Satcom Division.