Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq: GILT, TASE: GILT) has received a multi-million-dollar award from the US Army to supply high-performance BUCs for tactical communications (TacComm). Gilat’s fully owned subsidiary, Wavestream, will supply additional, 50W, Ka-band BUCs for program sustainment that is well into its second decade.
Wavestream’s Matchbox 50Ka MIL was originally fielded by the US Army in WIN-T Increment 1 as early as 2007 and is still active in service today. With more than 5,000 amplifiers shipped to date, this is easily the largest deployment of high performance Ka-band BUCs supporting Comms-on-the-Quick-Halt (COTQH) TacComms around the world.
“We are honored that Wavestream can continue supporting the US Army’s communications requirements,” said Bob Huffman, Wavestream’s General Manager. “The longevity of this program, and the part that Wavestream Ka-band BUCs play in sustaining these services, is a testament to the long term value of solid-state solutions in the most demanding environments.”
Wavestream, a Gilat subsidiary has, since 2001, provided system integrators with field-proven, high performance Ka-, Ku- and X-band Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs), Block Upconverters (BUCs), Block Down Converters and Transceivers. The company designs, manufactures and repairs their products in-house and have delivered more than 40,000 systems during the past 15 years. Wavestream products provide high quality and reliability under the harshest environmental conditions, all currently certified to ISO 9001:2008 and AS9100D standards.