CPI to provide radio frequency amplifiers and circuit cards for military SATCOM terminals
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., 15 Oct. 2013. U.S. military satellite communications (SATCOM) experts needed RF amplifiers and circuit cards for the AM-7498/G high-power amplifier used for several SATCOM terminals. They found their solution from Communications & Power Industries (CPI) Inc. in Palo Alto, Calif.
Officials of the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., have announced their intention to award a two-year sole-source contract to CPI for the SATCOM terminal RF and microwave components.
CPI is the only known manufacturer of the radio frequency amplifiers and circuit card assemblies used in the AM-7498/G high-power amplifier, DLA officials say. The AM-7498/G high-power amplifier is used on the military's AN/FSC-78C, AN/GSC-39C, and AN/GSC-52A SATCOM terminals.
Harris Corp. in Melbourne, Fla., won a 10-year, $600 million contract in 2009 to replace as many as 80 AN/GSC-52, AN/GSC-39, AN/FSC-78, and other aging strategic satellite communications terminals around the world with new simultaneous X- and Ka-band terminals able to interface with the Wideband Global Satellite constellation and with legacy satellite systems.
Harris is doing the SATCOM modernization work as part of the U.S. Army's Modernization of Enterprise Terminals (MET) program. Harris terminals will provide the backbone for high-priority military communications and missile defense systems. The hardware will include fixed ground terminal configurations; a hardened, transportable terminal; and a small terminal for rooftop mounting.
Harris teammates on the MET program include General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies; O'Neil & Associates; and Janus Research Group. General Dynamics SATCOM is developing the X-band antenna feed and a dual/simultaneous X- and Ka-band antenna feed.
General Dynamics is developing 12.2-meter antennas for fixed ground terminals, 7.2-meter antennas for transportable terminals, and 4.8-meter antennas for small terminals.
For more information contact CPI online at www.cpii.com, or the DLA at Aberdeen at www.landandmaritime.dla.mil/offices/DLAAberdeen.
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
