Harris buys situational awareness software business

Harris Corp. has acquired the technology assets of OSI Geospatial Inc’s land-based, situational awareness business in a move to further enhance its defense and public safety communications capabilities. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Through the acquisition, Harris obtains software that can capture, view and disseminate critical strategic and tactical information for defense and public safety customers, company officials said in a Feb. 1 statement.

The software is designed to provide commanders and team members with real-time information, such as the location of deployed forces and personnel, the officials said. Users can choose to embed the applications into both tactical and public safety radios, and also electronic devices such as laptop computers.

As part of the agreement, nine employees who engineer the situational awareness software will join Harris.

Harris, of Melbourne, Fla., ranks No. 13 on Washington Technology’s 2009 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.