Globecomm Systems, a Hauppauge, NY-based provider of satellite-based communications, received a contract extension from NATO valued at $9.1 million for communication services and on-site support for the company’s previously deployed GPS-based Blue Force Tracking System.
Globecomm previously announced approximately $35 million in contracts from NATO for this project to design and install a GPS-based Blue Force Tracking System, bringing the combined contract value to approximately $44 million…
For NATO in Afghanistan, Globecomm Systems developed a Blue Force Tracking system based on a Friendly Force Identifier standard, explained Globecomm’s Paul Scardino in an interview [pdf] with MilsatMagazine.com.
“The vehicle-mounted systems allow all of the vehicles in a unit to see themselves and each other, to navigate regardless of conditions, and to communicate by text-based instant messaging. The command post has the same information in real-time and troops in the field or commanders can mark hazards like IEDs as they are found. It creates tremendous situational awareness while preventing friendly-fire casualties, and can be quickly swapped into and out of vehicles as needed.”