Microwave Journal
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News From Washington

October 1, 2001

News From Washington


Rockwell Receives Contract for High Performance Electronics
According to a report from NewsEdge Corp., Rockwell Scientific has received a $6.4 M contract from the US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center under the sponsorship of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop ultra-low power electronic technology for use in high speed digital and millimeter-wave circuits.

A major objective of the program will be the development of transistors based on new types of compound semiconductors that employ antimony as a primary constituent. These new antimonide-based compound semiconductors (ABCS) have superior electronic properties and lower turn-on voltages compared to present-day semiconductor materials made from silicon, gallium arsenide and indium phosphide.

The ABCS technology will be combined with new techniques of circuit fabrication, pioneered by researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara, to produce circuits for defense and space applications that are the world's fastest and have the lowest (electrical) noise and lowest consumed power.

In addition to benefiting military systems, the ABCS technology will have commercial impact in light-wave communication circuits, high frequency wireless applications and integrated optoelectronic circuits. For further information, contact Rockwell Scientific, Jerry Risto at (805) 373-4538 or Paula Ross at (805) 373-4558.

DynCorp Unit Wins Military Sealift Command Communications Contract
According to NewsEdge Corp., DynCorp, a leading $1.8 B information technology and outsourcing solutions company, has been awarded a contract to provide personnel to operate, maintain and safeguard shipboard communications equipment, local area networks and associated information technology systems aboard four vessels belonging to the Military Sealift Command (MSC). The contract, which consists of one base year and four one-year extension options, will be managed by Dyn Marine and Logistics Services (DMLS), a unit of DynCorp Technical Services (DTS). Total fixed price value of the contract is more than $13.7 M.

"Past performance was a big reason we won this contract," said David Payne, president of DMLS. "Our operational experience with MSC helped us put together a winning proposal." MSC operates 120 non-combatant civilian-crewed ships around the world and is tasked with providing ocean transport to the Department of Defense and other US government agencies. DTS has operated the MSC's seven-ship oceanographic fleet for the past seven years.

According to Payne, the four ships contract will privatize one of the few areas of MSC operations still performed by active-duty Navy personnel. "We see this as a great strategic move," he said. "This market has the potential to expand significantly."

The contract period will begin with the changeover of the first ship about October 1st. Subsequent ships will changeover in January, March and May 2002.

For further information, contact Charlene A. Wheeless, VP, corporate and marketing communications, (703) 261-4622; or Charles Wilkins, marketing communications analyst, (703) 261-4617, both of DynCorp

August is No Recess for Bush Administration on Trade Promotion Authority
The halls of Congress may be quiet for the month of August, but the Bush Administration's advocacy of US leadership in the world marketplace continues, with a new Web site, www.tpa. gov, to educate Americans on the debate for presidential Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).

"With the launch of this Web site, men and women across America can learn how Trade Promotion Authority would affect their lives and impact the things that matter most to them," said US Commerce Secretary Don Evans. "Whether they are consumers, entrepreneurs, or workers, www.tpa.gov provides information they need on the important issue of Trader Promotion Authority."

The Web site is a joint effort of the White House and federal agencies involved in international trade policy-making. It provides information detailing trade's importance to consumers, workers and businesses, and includes a breakdown of the impact of trade on each state's economy, as well as specifics about trade's impact on various US industries.

"We want the people to know why Trade Promotion Authority is so important to the future of the American economy and to their families' futures," said Evans. "Trade Promotion Authority will empower the President to negotiate trade agreements that will open more markets for American goods and services, preserve jobs and reduce costs to farmers, workers, consumers and entrepreneurs."

"Some people may be surprised at what they learn about trade on www.tpa.gov," Evans said. "For example, 12 million US jobs are dependant on exports, and jobs supported by exports pay up to 18 percent more than the national average. Ninety percent of businesses that export are small businesses. One in three US farm acres are planted for export, and 25 percent of gross farm income comes from exports."

Evans points out that, without Trade Promotion Authority, the US is falling behind other countries. Of 130 existing free trade agreements, the US is party of only two. While Mexico and the European Union, in particular, have been forging ahead with preferential trade agreements, the US has lagged on the sidelines.

Raytheon Announces "Team Futara" for $3 B Software Radio Procurement
NewsEdge Corp. reports that Raytheon Co. has announced it will serve as prime contractor for a team pursuing the first procurement leading to large-scale production of military radios based on a common software architecture.

With partners ITT, Motorola and Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), Raytheon will lead the companies in a competition for design leadership of the most capable wireless networking systems ever fielded by the US military. The team is called Futara, a name taken from the phrase "future tactical radios."

The US Army will procure Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Cluster 1 radios for the joint services. Cluster 1 radios will be based on an open standard known as the Software Communications Architecture (SCA), developed and validated during the past two years.

Following Cluster 1's three-year design phase, the US military plans to acquire nearly 50,000 SCA-compliant radios. This figure includes more than 41,000 Army vehicular, 3800 Army airborne and 4,300 Air Force vehicular systems, valued at approximately $3 B. Future JTRS procurements will bring the production total to more than 200,000 SCA-compliant radios.

Raytheon led the development of JTRS' Software Communications Architecture, which established a blueprint for the design of future military and commercial software radios. SAIC will assist Raytheon in system engineering and integration. ITT and Motorola will supply radio sets.

Team Futara has designed and produced more than 65 percent of the tactical communication systems now in US military service. Its combined experience includes delivery of more than 500,000 airborne, vehicular, maritime, man pack and hand-held communication systems. The team members include the world's leading software radio designers; offer end-to-end production capabilities; and integrate communication systems in platforms for all defense military mission areas. Team Futara has implemented 100 percent of the Cluster 1 radio waveforms; pioneered the communication architecture for US Army's Tactical Internet; and developed the three recognized JTRS encryption devices. "JTRS is a revolution in interoperable communications," said Steve Teel, VP of business development for Raytheon Command, Control, Communication and Information Systems. "Team Futara has the knowledge and experience needed to turn the vision of JTRS into reality."

For additional information, contact Patricia Perlini at Raytheon. Tel: (219) 429-5547.