Exelis wins $42M contract to aid space-based air traffic control

ITT Exelis has won a $42 million contract with Aireon LLC to provide the company with the data processing and distribution component of Aireon’s space-based air traffic surveillance system.

Aireon is a joint venture between Iridium Communications and NAV CANADA.

Under the contract, ITT Exelis will provide the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast component, which will be used on Iridium NEXT, Iridium’s second-generation satellite constellation, Exelis said in a release.

The satellite constellation will enable fully global and continue space-based monitoring and control of aircraft, the company said.

Under the contract, ITT Exelis will design and build the data processing and distribution platform, and operate and maintain the system for 15 years after its first launch.

The Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast platform will enable air traffic controllers to grant pilots safer and more efficient flight levels and routing in situations where ground-based surveillance cannot be deployed cost-effectively.