L-3 wins B-52H communications subcontract

Under a contract with Boeing Co., L-3 Communications will work on a program to modernize the B-52H, focusing on delivering a broadband connection to the aircraft. The initial contract, which covers system development and demonstration, is worth $8.6 million.

For the B-52H Combat Network Communications Technology (Conect), File Server System program, L-3's Communication Systems-East division will furnish airborne and ground file server systems.

The L-3 division will deliver the systems along with solid-state memory removable storage devices from its strategic/tactical airborne recorder product line.

The Conect program is a three-phase upgrade to integrate the B-52H into network-centric operations. The upgrade encompasses new flight deck glass displays, addition of either the Link 16 or joint tactical radio system, and the new family of advanced beyond line-of-sight terminals.

Conect will provide a wide-band, high-speed pipeline into the aircraft, and enable B-52s to share data with other military systems and platforms through enhanced communications and improved situational awareness. This new technology will allow aircraft crews to re-task missions and weapons during flight.

The contract calls for development and delivery of 19 ground and airborne file server systems. The file server systems design includes networked attached storage functionality, which provides access to data files stored on removable non-volatile memory.

The file server systems will support the network booting of other computational systems within the Conect system and also enable the transfer of data between the ground-based storage management system and the aircraft.

L-3, which has more than 44,200 employees and had annual sales of $944 million in fiscal 2005, ranks No. 15 on Washington Technology's 2005 Top 100 list of federal prime contractors. The 2006 list will be released May 15.