Defense Information Systems Agency Awards Contract to ITT Exelis

ITT (News - Alert) Exelis, a diversified, top-tier global aerospace, defense, information and technical services company, has been awarded a contract by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to develop a global netted communications capability for the agency’s Distributed Tactical Communications System (DTCS).

As part of the contract, under the current development phase of DTCS — called “Global Services”, Exelis will provide the Department of Defense and other high-priority/special users with a satellite-based, global "push-to-talk” netted-communications service for voice and data.

“With this leading-edge satellite communications technology, warfighters will be able to communicate globally without being constrained by terrain or distance,” said Mark Adams, vice president and general manager of the Exelis specialty applications business, in a statement.

Adams said that this enhanced capability can be integrated into existing communications systems, so users do not have to wait for new devices to gain global coverage.

The current DTCS system has delivered regionally netted communication services to warfighters in Iraq, Afghanistan and other theaters of operation since 2009.

The company has been working closely with DISA and industry partner Iridium (News - Alert) Satellite Inc., helping Global Services to leverage the fully supported DTCS RO Tactical Radios and will establish an “open standard” interface so industry can develop a wide variety of additional DTCS devices.

“We’re proud to be working with DISA and our industry partner Iridium to enhance the DTCS,” said Adams.

Recently, ITT Exelis was also awarded a U.S. Army contract to continue to provide information technology operations and maintenance support to the U.S. Army in Southwest and Central Asia.

The contract has a potential value of $788 million when all options are exercised.