PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force has contracted Communications & Power Industries for the company to develop wave tube technologies in support of airborne communications.

California-based CPI was awarded the $1.4 million contract by the Air Force Materiel Command and the Air Force Research Laboratory in New York.

Under the two-year deal, CPI will support Air Force airborne communications requirements with the development of Ka-band traveling wave tube and amplifiers technologies. Officials say CPI's satellite communication and microwave divisions will perform work on the contract.

"We expect the development work CPI is doing for this military communications program will result in significant technology advances for high-power Ka-band amplifiers and for airborne communications applications," Andy Tafler, CPI satellite communication division president, said in a statement.