“DataPath Wins $42.4-M Contract to Deliver Satellite Communications Infrastructure to Support Army”
SatNews Daily

By SatNews Daily News Staff

December 6, 2005

DULUTH, Ga., – The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command in Fort Monmouth, N.J. has awarded DataPath a $42.4 million firm-fixed-price contract for custom satellite earth terminals and associated services.

DataPath said this award extends the Army’s Joint Network Node (JNN) initiative to provide enhanced communications services to multiple National Guard Units in Iraq and provides additional capabilities to the Marine Corps’ Video Storage Wide Area Network (VSWAN) and Logistics Support Wide Area Network (LSWAN) initiatives. DataPath solutions provide a cohesive interoperable IT infrastructure for both the Army and the Marine Corps.

Under the terms of the contract, DataPath will deliver DataPath ET 3000 Portable trailer-based satellite earth terminals and DataPath DKET 5000 Transportable self-contained satellite earth terminals. DataPath will also provide the Army with associated integrated logistics, depot as well as technical and engineering support to meet the service’s unique mission requirements.

Deployed extensively in Iraq, the JNN initiative is a network-centric communications architecture, which currently provides reliable and portable communications to the U.S. Army Third Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, Fourth Infantry Division and 10th Mountain Division. DataPath recently announced a $96 million contract for additional JNN deployments to the First Cavalry Division, the 25th Infantry Division, the 82nd Airborne Division and multiple Army National Guard units.

VSWAN provides the Marine Corps with in-theater visibility and intelligence to conduct reconnaissance, coordinate mission planning as well as fine-tune air and artillery targeting. The initiative delivers real-time communications and provides storage and retrieval capabilities via video-on-demand to support strategic analysis and command requirements. LSWAN provides the Marine Corps with network-centric supply chain capabilities to serve the logistics requirements of warfighters on the frontline.

“The U.S. military continues to march to embrace a net-centric operating model,” said Andy Mullins, chief executive officer of DataPath. “Expanding our involvement in the Army JNN initiative and the Marine Corps VSWAN and LSWAN initiatives, this award underscores DataPath’s ability to meet joint requirements and highlights the military’s increasing focus on interoperability.”

DataPath is providing a solution built on two custom versions of its DataPath ET 3000 Portable for battlefield communications to multiple Army National Guard units and the Marine Corps. This provides a mobile satellite telecommunications platform configurable for operation in Ku band frequency and for simultaneous Single Channel per Carrier (SCPC) / Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) carrier transmission. DataPath said it is also delivering two custom versions of the DataPath DKET 5000 Transportable to the Army to enhance the existing hub infrastructure in Iraq.

About DataPath, Inc.
DataPath is a global telecommunications systems integrator specializing in satellite earth terminals and network solutions. DataPath's rapid deployment voice, video and Internet communications solutions deliver mission-critical connectivity in extreme environments. Founded in 1996, DataPath serves government and commercial customers throughout the Americas , Europe, Asia and the Middle East . Privately held, DataPath is headquartered in Duluth , Ga. , and maintains offices in Tampa, Fla. , Philippines and Europe . For more information, visit http://www.datapath.com .

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