DataPath wins Army communications deal

DataPath Inc. has been awarded a $72.9 million contract from the Army Communications-Electronics Command in Fort Monmouth, N.J., to continue supporting its Joint Network Node program.

DataPath will deliver 92 portable satellite Earth terminals and provide support services as part of the JNN initiative. The contract includes the 92 DataPath ET 3000 Portables, which the Army calls satellite communications transportable terminals, and two DataPath DKET 4530Ku Mobiles, known by Army officials as unit hub SATCOM trucks.

Last fall, CECOM ordered 157 of the terminals from DataPath under a $96 million contract.

"Our troops require reliable beyond-line-of-sight, mobile communications on the battlefield," said John Lane, project leader of the Army's Commercial SATCOM Terminal Program, in a news release. "Satellite communications networks offer flexibility and high bandwidth for more advanced applications, no matter where our forces are located. The JNN program has been a tremendous success in moving the network out to the end user of mission-critical information, transforming the speed of deployment and coordination capabilities of our forces."

JNN began in 2004 and has since been deployed to Iraq with the Army's 3rd Infantry, 101st Airborne, 4th Infantry and 10th Mountain divisions. JNN is a command and control mobile battlefield communications system that gives troops the ability to talk on the move, using voice over IP, videoconferencing and access to classified and unclassified networks.

Based in Norcross, Ga., DataPath generated $327.4 million in revenues in 2005. The company ranked No. 37 on on Washington Technology's 2006 Top 100 list

Dawn S. Onley is a staff writer for Washington Technology's sister publication, Government Computer News.