Harris Corporation and Jotron Team to Pursue $200 Million Next-Gen FAA Radio System Contract

AMSTERDAM, March 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- (ATC Global, Booth #400) -- Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS) and Jotron AS have teamed up to pursue an anticipated five-year, $200 million Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contract for next-generation radios that will support the agency's future air/ground communications needs.  

Harris, an international communications and information technology company, has a long history of developing and integrating system solutions for the FAA and the global air traffic control network.  Jotron has a 40-year history of supplying aviation and maritime radios and communications systems around the world.

The companies are competing for Phase 2 of the FAA's Next Generation Air-to-Ground Communications System (NEXCOM) initiative.  The FAA is seeking commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS), very high frequency (VHF) and ultra high frequency (UHF) radios for voice communications between FAA facilities and aircraft in the terminal and flight services environments.

Harris and Jotron worked together to optimize the design of the Jotron 7000 Series multi-mode digital radio to meet FAA specifications, and also to provide additional benefits with Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Internet Protocol (IP) transmission.  In addition to helping the FAA reduce overall procurement cost, the design of the 7000 Series radio also will reduce logistics costs by providing a single source for both UHF and VHF radios.  The radios will be manufactured at Harris facilities in Malabar, Florida.

"The combination of Jotron's high-performance technology, combined with Harris communications and manufacturing expertise, makes this a winning team with a powerful advantage to provide the FAA exactly what it needs at a competitive price," said John O'Sullivan, vice president, Harris Mission Critical Networks.  "The Harris/Jotron team is strongly committed to winning this contract."

"We are very pleased to be combining our respective technology and manufacturing expertise to address the specific COTS radio needs of the FAA with our 7000 Series ground-to-air, multi-mode digital radios," said Merete Berdal, chairman, Jotron AS.  Jotron is headquartered in Tjodalyng, Norway.

Harris is the prime contractor and system architect for the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure program.  Other FAA programs developed by Harris include: the Weather And Radar Processor, a weather system serving the en-route air traffic control environment; OASIS, which provided integrated weather briefing and flight planning capabilities for preflight weather briefings and in-flight updates; the Voice Switching and Control System, which provides the critical air-to-ground communications links between en-route aircraft and air traffic controllers throughout the continental United States; and the satellite-based Alaskan National Airspace System (NAS) Interfacility Communications System.

About Jotron AS

Jotron has specialized in high-quality products and systems for airspace and maritime communication for more than 40 years and the world of airspace communication for more than 30 years.  Jotron offers a modern range of professional VHF and UHF aeronautical band radios for both civil and military air traffic control (ATC) purposes.  Jotron's unique, modular radio architecture offers the most compact radio system configuration possible, while increasing reliability and simplifying installation, inspection, and maintenance.  Further details about Jotron and their latest technologies can be obtained at www.jotron.com.

About Harris Corporation

Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets worldwide.  Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has approximately $5 billion of annual revenue and more than 15,000 employees — including nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists.  Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and services.  Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at www.harris.com

SOURCE Harris Corporation