[Satellite Today 06-10-09] Iridium Satellite received a contract from the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, to support development and delivery of the Distributed Tactical Communications System (DTCS), Iridium announced June 9.
    DTCS is an extension of Netted Iridium, the company’s push-to-talk communications capability. DTCS will provide over-the-horizon, on-the-move, beyond line-of-sight netted voice and data communications over the Iridium network for the warfighter.
    The U.S. Department of Defense has been testing phase one netted technologies since 2006. The five-year, $21.7 million contract for phase two provides for further development of the system. Iridium’s team includes ITT Corp., which is providing the tactical radio and development of the ground-based management system, and Boeing, which is updating software for the Iridium constellation.
    The Department of Defense also selected DTCS as the number two candidate for a 2009 Joint Concept Technology Demonstration.