[11-13-07 – Satellite Today] Raytheon Co. received a contract from the U.S. Navy to develop a tactical paging solution that improves submarine communications, the company announced Nov. 13.

    Under the $5.2 million contract, Raytheon will integrate satellite communications with its Deep Siren system, which employs acoustic, expendable buoys that enable long-range communications to a submarine.

    "Submarine communication protocols are much the same as they were 60 years ago," Jerry Powlen, vice president, Network Centric Systems’ Integrated Communications Systems, said in a statement. "Integrating satellite communications with acoustic Deep Siren technology dramatically changes this paradigm by enabling a commander anywhere in the world to contact a submarine immediately regardless of the submarine’s speed or depth."

    Raytheon teamed with Scotland’s RRK Technologies Ltd. and Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems of Canada to deliver the capability.