[Satellite Today – 4-21-08] The U.S. Army exercised a $5.5 million contract option for continued production of the Joint IP Modem (JIPM), Globecomm Systems Inc. announced April 21.
    In November, the Army awarded Globecomm a contract to develop the modem, which is intended to serve as a standard network IP modem for use on military and commercial satellites. Subcontractor ViaSat Inc. is responsible for JIPM development and production.    
    The goal of the effort is to leverage commercial technology while providing an open standard based approach, which can form the basis of interoperability for military users. The U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency manages the JIPM initiative and plans to field the modem in the U.S. Department of Defense Teleport Generation 2 rollout.
    The initial contract was valued at $9.9 million, and the new option brings the total value of the contract to $15.4 million to date. If all contract options are exercised, the program will be valued at up to $87 million for Globecomm and ViaSat.