[Satellite TODAY 07-12-10] ViaSat has been awarded a $5.8 million contract from the U.S. Navy for tactical data link and satellite communications equipment and engineering support services, the company announced July 9.
    The contract, issued from the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic (SPAWAR), combines purchases for the U.S. Navy and the government of the Republic of Turkey under the Foreign Military Sales program. The U.S. Navy purchases will constitute 75 percent of the new contract structure, with the remaining 25 percent comprised of orders from the Turkish military.
   The award includes options that, if exercised, would increase the cumulative contract ceiling to about $30 million. If all options are exercised, work could continue until June 2015.