Harris to develop satellite architecture

MELBOURNE, Fla., Nov. 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded Harris Corp. a contract to study and develop new lighter-weight satellite architecture.

The Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio awarded U.S. company Harris an eight-month contract to develop a modular communications architecture for satellites.

Officials say the new satellite communications architecture will be lighter in weight and designed to better address the military's evolving intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance requirements.

"This award reflects the proven expertise that Harris has gained in its many years of developing architectures and sensor payloads for satellite systems," Wes Covell, Harris Defense Programs president, said in a statement.

"We are very pleased to be able to support Operationally Responsive Space Office in its mission to develop a new satellite architecture that can be modified easily to provide payloads targeted to a specific mission."