Email this article   Print article 

NSA Awards Harris $41.6 Milion For Secure WLAN

By Spencer Chin, CRN
March 28, 2006    1:03 PM ET

MANHASSET, N.Y. — Harris Corp. said Tuesday (March 28) it has won a five-year, $41.6 million contract from the National Security Agency to supply its SecNet 54 secure wireless local-area network (SWLAN) to the federal government and approved customers.

Designed to be crypto-modernization-compliant, SecNet 54 can be used in secure communications applications up to Top Secret/SCI Level Data. It can operate with a High Assurance Internet Protocol Interoperability Specification-compliant Inline Network Encryptor using a pre-placed, symmetric key.

"This is a very important contract for Harris and the first order for SecNet 54, a first-of-its-kind cryptographic communications device," Dan Pearson, president of DoD Programs business unit of Harris Government Communications Systems Division (Melbourne, Fla.), said in a statement. "It fills the near-term needs of DOD, federal and international customers and is an enabling technology for several large programs," including the U.S. Army's Warfighter Information Network-Tactical program as well as the Air Force's Combat Information Transportation Systems.

SecNet 54, in its 802.11 a/b/g configuration, is a SWLAN (Type 1 encryption) network for data-, video- and voice-over-IP applications. Using standard, IEEE 802.11 wireless protocols, its data transmission rate is 54 Mbits/second. It also features low-packet latency in multimedia applications.

Harris said the network operates at line-of-sight ranges of up to 100 meters indoors and up to 600 meters outdoors. Further extended ranges are possible with external antennas and power amplifiers, or both.

SecNet 54's dual-module architecture supports numerous transmission media. In its first release, SecNet 54 consists of an 802.11a/b/g radio module attached to a cryptographic module, enabling it to function as a SWLAN device.


Email this article   Print article 

More

Recent Articles

Public Display: Hot Scenes From XChange Public Sector

Hundreds of VARs, integrators, vendors and analysts descended on the Sawgrass Marriott in Jacksonville, Fla., last week for XChange Public Sector. Here's a look at what you missed if you weren't there, from heated health-care and government discussion to just plain heat.

CRN 2010 Public Sector Awards: Meet The Big Winners

CRN saluted four vendors and five VARs and integrators at XChange Public Sector in Jacksonville. Have a look at who took home the hardware this year, including Public Sector Integrator of the Year.

10 Burning Questions For The Public Sector Channel

As XChange Public Sector kicks off in Jacksonville June 12, here's a look at some of the most pressing issues for public sector VARs and integrators, from cybersecurity and firm-fixed-price contracts to green technology and small business priorities.

  More Slide Shows




Related Videos
Loading...