CapRock (News - Alert) Government Solutions, a subsidiary of Harris Corporation, announced partnership with Tampa Microwave, a provider of innovative remote terminal solutions, to deliver complete end-to-end man-packable military-grade satellite communications solutions. 

Under the terms of this agreement, CapRock will provide government and military users deployed in remote areas of operation with a lightweight, portable man-pack satcom solution that easily connects to CapRock's CommandAccess network.

Earlier this year CapRock expanded coverage of its CommandAccess pre-packaged satellite subscription service with the finalization of its commercial X-band network that includes military-grade features for secure voice, video and data communications, according to company officials.

In combination with Tampa Microwave's (News - Alert) TM-X850MP man-pack terminal, the service offering creates new communications options for field-deployed government agencies, they added.

Tampa Microwave's X-band man-pack terminal is certified for use on Paradigm's Skynet 5 fleet of military hardened satellites that are fully MAC I compliant and part of the CommandAccess network, company officials said. The microsat terminal is expected to complete the final phase of WGS certification by the first quarter of 2011. 

“Integrating this key microsat technology into our military-grade CommandAccess network will enhance our end-to-end service delivery, providing a lightweight, low-cost satcom solution for highly mobile remote users,” said CapRock Government Solutions (News - Alert) EVP and general manager, David Myers, in a statement.

“The terminal has already proven successful on live customer missions in the field and we're excited to share the new offering with all our government and military customers as part of the total CommandAccess service,” Myers added.

According to Tampa Microwave president, Eric Guerrazzi, the fan-less design, compact form factor, ease of use, and modular concept of the X-band man-pack make it ideal for the incidental user deployed deep in the field.

“Coupled with CapRock's CommandAccess network, this end-to-end X-band solution offers all the features that government and military customers are looking for,” Guerrazzi added.

Weighing just 31 lbs, the lightweight microsat does not require a laptop for deployment. Using advanced power management the terminal can operate with one standard military battery for over 85 minutes.

In another recent announcement CapRock said it has signed a multi-year contract extension to provide CapRock's VSAT communications to Diamond Offshore's fleet located in the Gulf of Mexico.