Harris Gets $41 NSA Contract for Cryptographic Device

MELBOURNE, Fla., March 29, 2006 -- Harris Corp. announced yesterday that it has been awarded a five-year, $41.6 million contract by the National Security Agency (NSA) to supply its cryptographic communications device to the US federal government and other approved customers.

"This is a very important contract for Harris and the first order for SecNet 54, a first-of-its-kind cryptographic communications device," said Dan Pearson, president of the Department of Defense (DoD) Programs business unit of Harris Government Communications Systems Div., of the indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. "The development of SecNet 54 was a direct result of listening to our customers. It fills the near-term needs of DoD, federal and international customers, and is an enabling technology for several large programs and pursuits such as the US Army's Warfighter Information Network's Tactical, Command Post Platform and Joint Network Node programs, as well as the US Air Force's Combat Information Transportation Systems and Theater Deployable Communications programs. We expect this new product will open exciting opportunities in the secure wireless communications market as well as provide entry into the wired encryption market."

Harris said its SecNet 54, priced at $7495 under the contract, can be used in secure communications applications up to top secret/SCI (sensitive compartmented information) level data. Using standard wireless protocols, the product can transmit 54 Mb/s operating at line-of-sight ranges of up to 100 meters indoors and up to 600 meters outdoors. Those ranges can be extended by using external antennas and/or power amplifiers.

For more information, visit: www.harris.com