BAE Systems gets Slovak army communications deal

BAE Systems Inc. will continue to develop for Slovakia an interoperable mobile military communications system through a $30 million contract.

Under the contract, BAE of Rockville, Md., will develop and deliver seven prototype systems to the Slovak armed forces. The Slovak Ministry of Defense awarded the company the contract for the second phase of the military communications system known as MOKYS.

The Ministry of Defense selected the company in December 2005 for the first phase of the military communications program.

The IP-based communications system combines handheld and man-pack radios with integrated security and automated command and control routines. Its U.S.- and NATO-compliant architecture reduces cost and complexity and provides software-defined waveform capability for future growth.

BAE systems will deliver MOKYS in tailored configurations for command post, support, communications and relay operations to support battalion brigade-level forces for national and coalition operations. The system's design supports communications on the move and information interoperability. BAE Systems will lead the system development and delivery with support from U.S., German, Swedish and Slovak companies.

The Slovak government will test the system in 2008, after which BAE Systems will initiate a production program.

BAE Systems, which has about 45,000 employees and had about $10 billion sales in 2006, ranks No. 11 on Washington Technology's 2006 Top 100 list of the largest federal IT contractors.