Harris Corp., a leading supplier of satellite communications systems for government and commercial applications worldwide, announced that it has been awarded a one-year, $2.3 M follow-on contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Special Projects Office, Washington, DC, and the US Air Force Research Lab's (AFRL) Sensors Directorate, Rome, NY, to continue to study the development of an advanced space-borne antenna system for the Innovative Space-based Radar Antenna Technology (ISAT) study.


Harris recently completed the first phase of the contract, valued at $2.5 M, in which it successfully developed an innovative concept of a light weight, space-based, extremely large deployable radar antenna designed to address tactical tracking of moving targets on the ground. The second phase of the contract provides for the definition of additional technology that supports the design and for recommendations regarding a launch demonstration unit. Ultimately, ISAT will help provide a solution to the challenge of integrating Space-based Radar (SBR) and a Moving Target Indication from Space (MTIS).

"We are extremely pleased to continue our work on the ISAT program," said Bob Henry, senior vice president, Harris Corp. and president, Harris Government Communications Systems Division (GCSD). "Harris has long been a leading supplier of advanced antenna technology and capability, and the ISAT initiative, combined with our work on the SBR, positions Harris well for growth in state-of-the-art space-borne equipment and payloads."