Telos inks Air Force wireless network deal

The Air Force Combat Command awarded Telos Corp. a contract to deploy its wireless local area network solution to three bases to support aircraft maintenance work.

Air Force maintenance staff at three major bases will get a new wireless network that will help make aircraft upkeep more efficient and mobile.

The Air Force Combat Command awarded Telos Corp. a $2.7 million contract to deploy its wireless local area network solution to Barksdale Air Force Bas, La., Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

The Air Combat Command will use the WLAN when maintenance is required to be performed beyond the perimeter of a base, Telos said.

Xacta Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Telos, Ashburn, Va., will install and maintain WLANs at the three bases that will allow Air Force staff to troubleshoot and repair aircraft using wireless-enabled, rugged computers from Itronix Corp., Spokane, Wash.

The work will now take place at the aircraft's location and in real time, thus eliminating many issues that cause delays in aircraft readiness.

The WLAN solution will soon allow secure access to technical manuals, online repair information and logistics data, all part of the Integrated Maintenance Data System. Wireless access to the data system will eliminate much of the keyboard entry required for its current operation.

Telos has about 440 employees, and revenues of $116.7 million in fiscal 2004. The company ranks No. 70 on Washington Technology's 2005 Top 100 list of federal prime contractors.