Small Tactical Terminals from Harris Corporation Provide Critical Weather Data to U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MELBOURNE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 13, 2003

U.S. soldiers on the front lines of the War on Terrorism in Afghanistan are using Small Tactical Terminals (STTs) from Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) to keep abreast of ever-changing weather conditions that can affect military operations. The Harris STTs are highly portable systems that receive, process, analyze, display, distribute, and store imagery and sensor data from numerous geostationary and polar-orbiting weather satellites. The terminals can be set up and made operational in less than 45 minutes.

"Harris has been supplying transportable military satellite systems for more than 35 years," said Bob Henry, president, Harris Government Communications Systems Division (GCSD). "We are especially proud that these products are enhancing the tactical readiness and safety of our soldiers and coalition forces engaged in the War on Terrorism."

At Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, for example, U.S. Air Force weather personnel are on duty 24 hours-a-day, providing briefings on weather conditions that can mean the difference between life and death to military aviators and ground combat forces. The Bagram weather staff also provides forecasts to 11 other locations in Afghanistan, where a mix of mountains, valleys and desert terrain can create intense and rapidly changing weather conditions.

"The Harris STTs are ideally suited for this type of deployment," added Henry. "They are very portable, so there is no need to install large antennas, and they receive real-time weather data directly from the satellites instead of relying on local surface communications infrastructures which may be outdated or nonexistent."

The Harris STT program provides a worldwide, deployable, operational meteorological satellite (METSAT) receiving and processing capability to weather personnel supporting U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army operations, such as aviation, tactical planning, target selection, and weapons selection.

All equipment in the STT system is commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and operates autonomously, automatically ingesting, processing, generating and distributing selected images/products. It can ingest images from up to three satellites simultaneously.

The STT receives imagery and environmental data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) and automatic picture transmission imagery and high-resolution picture transmission imagery from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as data from other polar orbiting meteorological satellites. The STT also receives high-resolution imagery from a variety of geostationary satellites, including GOES, METEOSAT, and GMS.

Harris GCSD, one of five divisions within Harris Corporation, conducts advanced research studies, develops prototypes, and produces and supports state-of-the-art, assured communications and information systems that solve the mission-critical communications challenges of its military and government customers, as well as provides the technology base for the company's diverse commercial businesses. Harris Corporation, which also provides tactical radio, microwave, broadcast, and network support products and systems for government and commercial customers, has sales and services facilities in more than 90 countries. For more information, visit http://www.harris.com.