Advanced Satcom Terminals Pass The Test

July 16, 2009

Raytheon Co. and the US Army recently completed successful testing of the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite-communications production terminals. The firm's Secure Mobile Anti-jam Reliable Tactical Terminal (SMART-T) offers the next generation of protected communications with AEHF satellites. The testing follows Raytheon's $97.5 million contract to produce and install AEHF upgrade kits that increase the data rate of existing SMART-T systems by fourfold. The award, which is part of an indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity contract that was originally awarded in 2007, increases the total value to $290 million.

"With the cancellation of the Transformational Communications Satellite system, AEHF solutions are more critical than ever," says Jerry Powlen, Vice President, Network Centric Systems Integrated Communications Systems. "Raytheon has shown its commitment to protected satellite communications by providing key AEHF solutions to the US Army, Air Force, and Navy."

About the Author

Nancy Friedrich

RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense, Keysight Technologies

Nancy Friedrich is RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense at Keysight Technologies. Nancy Friedrich started a career in engineering media about two decades ago with a stint editing copy and writing news for Electronic Design. A few years later, she began writing full time as technology editor at Wireless Systems Design. In 2005, Nancy was named editor-in-chief of Microwaves & RF, a position she held (along with other positions as group content head) until 2018. Nancy then moved to a position at UBM, where she was editor-in-chief of Design News and content director for tradeshows including DesignCon, ESC, and the Smart Manufacturing shows.