CHELMSFORD, Mass., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY) announced that it was selected by Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) to provide the wideband modem subsystem platform as part of Raytheon's recent HDR-RF Ground Modem contract from the US Air Force. Raytheon worked with Mercury Computer Systems to leverage the benefits of COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) software radio processing and real waveform portability for elements of this defense communications application while still ensuring delivery of the highest performing solution available.
The onslaught of today's communications standards coupled with rapidly evolving new-generation waveforms has created a need to build communications systems that are ready to accept any present or future waveform. Mercury is the first to enable COTS-based waveform portability meeting the needs of Department of Defense programs for wideband data link and SATCOM (WBDLS). This approach is expected to lower the costs for continued improvement in the waveforms used for communications, since it avoids the need for modem hardware redesign or replacement as waveforms are modified over time.
"Leveraging available COTS technology for defense communications enables us to deliver capability to the warfighter faster and without sacrificing performance," said George Vardakis, Director of Air Force and Army SATCOM Programs at Raytheon Network Centric Systems.
Mercury will provide Raytheon with its Waveform-Ready(TM) WBDLS modem platform and SCA-compliant Component Portability Infrastructure (CPI) middleware for the software radio. Mercury Waveform-Ready processing platforms combine the latest processor, transceiver, and interconnect technologies with CPI to help customers meet the challenge of evolving standards and available technologies.
"We remain focused on developing COTS-based products that enable solutions for the most challenging problems. We are delighted to have been selected by Raytheon to assist them in their efforts to contribute to the defense SATCOM community," said Mark Skalabrin, Senior Vice President, Advanced Computing Solutions at Mercury Computer Systems.
Building on the concepts introduced by the U.S. Government's Software Communications Architecture (SCA) standard, CPI extends component-based architectures and waveform portability across FPGAs, DSPs, and GPPs to decrease development costs and time to market through code portability, reuse, and ease of integration. Availability of demonstration hardware for the HDR modem is scheduled for late spring '08. For more information on Mercury's Waveform-Ready modem subsystem hardware and middleware:
-- Contact Mike Kosmicki, Director of Radio & Army Programs, Mercury Federal Solutions Group, at (978) 967-1833, [email protected] -- Visit http://www.mc.com/industries/aero/satcom.aspx Contact Mercury at (866) 627-6951.Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. -- Where Challenges Drive Innovation
Mercury Computer Systems is the leading provider of computing systems and software for data-intensive applications that include image processing, signal processing, and visualization. With a strong commitment to innovation, our expertise in algorithm optimization, systems development, and silicon design is blended with software application knowledge and industry-standard technologies to solve unique computing challenges. We work closely with our customers to architect solutions that have a meaningful impact on everyday life: detecting aneurysms; designing safer, more fuel-efficient aircraft; identifying security threats; discovering oil; developing new drugs; and visualizing virtually every aspect of scientific investigation.
Mercury's comprehensive, purpose-built solutions capture, process, and present data for the world's largest medical imaging companies, 8 of the 10 top defense prime contractors, and other leading Fortune 500 and mid-market companies in semiconductor, energy, telecommunications, and other industries. Our dedication to performance excellence and collaborative innovation continues a 24-year history in enabling customers to stay at the forefront of the markets they serve.
Mercury is based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts and serves customers worldwide through a broad network of direct sales offices, subsidiaries, and distributors. We are listed on the Nasdaq National Market (NASDAQ: MRCY). Visit Mercury at www.mc.com.
Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those relating to Mercury's wideband data links and SATCOM offerings. You can identify these statements by our use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, including unforeseen weakness in the Company's markets, effects of continued geo-political unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, continued funding of defense programs, the timing of such funding, changes in the U.S. Government's interpretation of federal procurement rules and regulations, market acceptance of the Company's products, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, inability to fully realize the expected benefits from acquisitions or delays in realizing such benefits, challenges in integrating acquired businesses and achieving anticipated synergies, and difficulties in retaining key customers. These risks and uncertainties also include such additional risk factors as are discussed in the Company's recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007 . The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.
Contacts: Mike Kosmicki Leigh McLeod Director, Army & Radio Programs Media Relations Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. Corporate Marketing 978-967-1833 / [email protected] Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. 978-967-1120 / [email protected] Kathy Sniezek Public Relations Manager Corporate Marketing Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. 978-967-1126 / [email protected]Waveform-Ready is a trademark of Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
SOURCE Mercury Computer Systems, Inc.