Harris wins more FAA voice-switching work

Harris Corp. has won a $35 million contract modification from the Federal Aviation Administration to upgrade the voice communications displays used by the nation's air traffic controllers as part of the Voice Switching and Control System, the company announced today.

Under the terms of the contract modification, Harris will replace more than 8,000 cathode-tube-based displays with modern, flat-panel technology. The upgraded displays will offer enhanced functionality for air traffic controllers and significantly lower equipment lifecycle costs for the agency.

The work will be performed by Harris' Government Communications Systems Division as part of a contract that was awarded in 1991.

The Voice Switching and Control System, which is based on independent, distributed processors and switches, lets air traffic controllers establish air-to-ground and ground-to-ground communications with pilots and other air traffic controllers. The system offers high voice quality and dynamic reconfiguration capabilities to meet changing customer needs.

Harris of Melbourne, Fla., has more than 12,000 employees and annual sales of $2.5 billion. The company ranks No. 23 on Washington Technology's 2005 Top 100 list, which measures federal contracting revenue.