One of GATR’s WGS certified inflatable satellite antennas. Photo: GATR

[Via Satellite 01-09-2014] The United States Army has awarded GATR Technologies a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a ceiling value of approximately $440 million. The contract will enable the U.S. Army, Marine Corps and other commands and services to procure GATR’s WGS certified inflatable satellite antennas (ISA) and associated hardware, services and support.

GATR’s ISAs use a flexible parabolic dish mounted within an inflatable sphere, reducing weight and packaged volume by as much as 80 percent. The antenna also costs less to procure than conventional deployable systems, and cuts transportation expenses, according to GATR. U.S. and allied militaries have fielded more than 300 GATR ISA terminals since 2008.