Harris wins wireless encryption work

Harris Corp. won a five-year, $23 million contract to supply secure wireless local area network products to the National Security Agency.

Harris Corp. won a five-year, $23 million contract to supply secure wireless local area network products to the National Security Agency, the company said today.

Under the task order contract, Harris will supply wireless network interface cards, called SecNet 11 Plus PC cards, wireless bridges and auxiliary equipment to federal agencies and their contractors, NATO, and foreign military customers with valid communications security accounts through NSA.

The cards use cryptography to deliver secure data, video and voice over Internet protocol services at the secret level. The cards provide a data rate of 11 megabits per second. They eliminate the need for expensive externally wired encryption equipment and allow users to quickly create networks and maintain wireless communications on-the-go anywhere in the world.

Melbourne, Fla.-based Harris provides communications equipment primarily to the federal sector. It employs 10,300 workers and had 2003 revenue of $2.1 billion. The company is No. 16 on Washington Technology's 2004 Top 100 list of federal prime contractors.