Raytheon gets Air Force deal

The Air Force has awarded Raytheon Co. a $20.5 million contract to make improvements to the Global Broadcast Services.

GBS lets joint war-fighters send and receive voice, video and data information globally. The Enhanced Modular Architecture Development and Integration project deal issued Oct. 24 includes design, development, integration, testing and deployment, the Defense Department said.

The Air Force already issued Raytheon's Garland, Tex.-based Intelligence and Information Systems division $3.9 million of the $20.5 million contract. The service wants the work completed by December 2005, said the defense contract statement.

Each GBS satellite uses Ka and Ku frequency bands that transfers data at rates up to 96 Mbps. GBS is the U.S. military's best system through which joint warfighters can easily access intelligence information, but the department in 2004 will expand the Global Information Grid using newly-acquired fiber-optic cable so military personnel can more quickly and easily exchange data.