[09-20-07 – Satellite Today] The U.S. Air Force awarded   Comtech EF Data Corp. a $5.3 million development contract for the High Data Rate Radio Frequency Ground Modem, the company announced Sept. 18.

The modem will provide high data rate capabilities on next generation Wideband Global Satcom satellites and will support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications and disseminate large quantities of strategic and mission-critical information.

The modem is expected to be an important component of future high-speed satellite communications on the Government’s Global Information Grid.