Harris Corporation Launches Second Phase of Program Linking FAA Air Traffic Control Facilities in Alaska.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (BOOTH 416) & MELBOURNE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 5, 2001--Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), a leading integrator of highly reliable air traffic control communications systems and weather processing and display solutions for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), today announced that it will begin implementing the second phase of the satellite-based Alaskan NAS Interfacility Communications System (ANICS). Phase II will extend the advanced air traffic control (ATC) communications capabilities of the network's 53 completed sites to smaller, remote Alaskan communities of 50 to 500 residents. The announcement was made during the 46th annual meeting of the Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) at the Washington D.C. Convention Center.

ANICS is the first major U.S. satellite-based ATC communications system, providing the FAA with highly reliable, backbone voice, data, and radar communications capabilities that link the Alaskan Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) with remote FAA ATC facilities (e.g., air-to-ground radio sites, Radars, and weather monitoring stations) throughout the region. ANICS will potentially interconnect up to 100 sites.

"The launch of Phase II is an important milestone in the ANICS program," said Bob Henry, president, Harris Government Communications Systems Division (GCSD). "The first phase enhanced overall ATC-related communications performance with respect to larger Alaskan population centers by significantly increasing network reliability and durability. Phase II will bring those same benefits to smaller communities and rural villages, which are completely dependent on air transportation for travel and commerce."

The second phase of ANICS will incorporate a number of enhancements designed to address Alaska's harsh operating environment. These include the use of ruggedized, 28-foot spherical radomes to house the earth terminal facilities, protecting equipment from snow and ice buildup and severe temperature swings. The radomes enhance maintenance capabilities during periods of extreme weather and extended darkness.

This radome approach offers additional cost and productivity gains by allowing other FAA equipment to be co-located with the ANICS antenna and electronics. In addition, a tubular weight distribution foundation eliminates the costly requirements of transporting concrete supplies and heavy construction equipment into the Alaskan wilderness.

The ANICS network includes a hub earth station located at the Anchorage ARTCC and at three Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSS) in Juneau, Kenai and Fairbanks, Alaska. Remote sites communicate with the ARTCC hub and one of three AFSS hubs. Connectivity from the ANICS earth station demarcation point to the FAA facilities is provided by microwave links, fiber-optic links, or copper cable, depending on the distance.

ANICS is owned and operated by the FAA, and managed from a Network Control Center in Anchorage using Harris' Air Traffic Network Manager (ATNM), which provides remote maintenance monitoring of the entire network.

Harris GCSD conducts advanced research studies, develops prototypes, and produces and supports state-of-the-art, highly reliable communications and information systems that solve the mission-critical communications challenges of its military and government customers, and provides the technology base for the company's diverse commercial businesses.

Harris Corporation is an international communications equipment company focused on providing product, system, and service solutions that take its customers to the next level. The company provides a wide range of products and services for commercial and government communications markets such as wireless, broadcast, government, and network support. Harris has sales and service facilities in more than 90 countries. Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at http://www.harris.com.