CONTRACTS

Raytheon Company—Has been awarded a $23.9-million phase 3 contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to continue work on the 38-month phase of the Wide Bandgap Semiconductor (WBGS) development program. The program is a collaboration between DARPA and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Their objective is to rapidly mature and demonstrate the capabilities of gallium nitride (GaN) to improve the performance of missile-defense radars. To accelerate the technology development, the program will combine the results of Raytheon’s DARPA-funded WBGS Phase 2 and the MDA-funded Next Generation Transmit Receive Integrated Microwave Module programs. Work will be performed by Raytheon IDS at the Integrated Air Defense Center in Andover, MA and the Surveillance and Sensors Center in Sudbury, MA.
EMRISE Corp.—Has received a $420,000 order for RF devices, which is the second release in a program that is expected to exceed $1.25 million this year. The RF devices will be employed in remote-controlled improvised-explosive-device (RCIED) jamming systems. The order was received from an existing customer and is expected to commence shipment immediately. The orders were received by the company’s Advanced Control Components, Inc. (ACC) subsidiary.
Symmetricom, Inc.—Has been awarded a contract from ITT Corp.’s Space Systems Division valued at a minimum of $4 million as part of the building of GPS IIIA—the nextgeneration Global Positioning System (GPS) Space System program. Symmetricom will deliver its model 9552 ovenized quartz master oscillators over three years, which includes the development, qualification, and delivery of flight oscillators for the first two space vehicles.
Lockheed Martin—Has partnered with the University of Florida to develop and launch five miniature satellites to test new space solutions. Lockheed Martin will fund $450,000 worth of research and development projects at the university this year. Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Services and the University of Florida will use these satellites to investigate technological advances, such as miniaturized, space-hardened GPS electronics and state-of-the-art intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. Lockheed Martin also will perform payload data analysis for these satellite missions. The satellites, which are called CubeSats, are built in the shape of a cube. They operate on a power output similar to a cell phone and weigh less than 2.2 lbs. The satellites can be built and launched relatively inexpensively in a matter of months.

FRESH STARTS

EB Elektrobit Corp.—Is part of the European Secure Software Defined Radio (ESSOR) Program. This European Defence Agency (EDA) project consists of industrial companies from six participating member states including EB (Finland), Indra (Spain), Radmor (Poland), Saab (Sweden), Selex (Italy), and Thales (France). ESSOR’s aim is to study and develop the SDR space to ultimately deliver products and services under a common security basis, thereby increasing interoperability between European forces. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2012 with a total estimated cost of over 100 million euros.
Elbit Systems Ltd.—Has announced that its Israeli subsidiary, Elbit Systems Land and C4I-Tadiran Ltd. (ESLC-T), has acquired all of the shares of Shiron Satellite Communications Ltd., a privately owned Israeli company, for a purchase price of $16 million.
Fairchild Semiconductor—Plans to streamline and consolidate wafer manufacturing. The company will close its wafer fabrication plant and site in Mountaintop, PA as well as one of its wafer fabs in Bucheon, South Korea. Once completed, the company expects to realize annual savings ranging from $20 to $25 million as a result of these closures.
Harris Stratex Networks, Inc.—Has announced that the Harris board of directors has approved the spin-off to Harris shareholders of its majority position in the company. The distribution of approximately 56 percent of the outstanding shares of Harris Stratex Networks owned by Harris Corp.—32.9 million shares—will take place in the form of a taxable pro-rata stock dividend payable on May 27, 2009 to Harris shareholders of record at the close of business on May 13, 2009.
International Rectifier (IR)—Has announced that its HiRel Business Unit has launched testing services to customers seeking critical electrical, reliability, and qualification testing. IR’s new suite of testing services addresses the growing need for electrical and environmental testing of hermetic and non-hermetic (plastic) components required by customers in a range of high-reliability market segments.
TÜV Rheinland of North America—Has learned that its electromagnetic- compatibility (EMC) and telecommunications product testing lab in Rochester, NY has been approved for electromagnetic-interference and electromagnetic-susceptibility testing for products imported into Korea. The Radio Research Agency Korea Communications Commission, which is located in Seoul, Korea, confirmed the designation after a review of TÜV Rheinland’s lab capabilities and testing equipment.
Gary and Mary West Foundation—Has committed $45 million to create the West Wireless Health Institute (San Diego, CA), one of the world’s first medical research organizations dedicated to advancing health and well being through the use of wireless technologies. Scripps Health has signed on as the founding healthcare affiliate with QUALCOMM as a founding sponsor. Gary West is Founder and Chair of the Institute’s board of directors. He will be joined on the board by Dr. Eric J. Topol, Chief Academic Officer at Scripps Health and holder of the Gary and Mary West Chair of Innovative Medicine, and Donald Jones, Vice President of Health and Life Sciences at QUALCOMM.
Modelithics, Inc.—Has announced ICON Design Automation Pvt. Ltd. as its representative in India. Larry Dunleavy, CEO of Modelithics, and R. Varalakshmi, CEO of ICON Design Automation, have signed a comprehensive agreement designed to support India’s market for high-accuracy RF and microwave simulation models and characterization services.