Harris To Design Weather Satellite

MELBOURNE, Fla. (AP) — Harris Corp., which makes radios and communications equipment for military and commercial customers, said Thursday it has received a contract worth up to $736 million to design and operate satellite equipment to process weather and other data.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's satellite will generate and distribute weather data to more than 10,000 users, Harris said. The Melbourne, Fla., company will design, develop, deploy and operate the ground segment.

NOAA uses the satellites to detect and track hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornadoes and other severe weather in the United States and western hemisphere, Harris Corp. said.

The next-generation system will provide improved image resolution and increase the rate of coverage of earth surfaces from every 30 minutes to every five minutes in normal circumstances and every 30 seconds during periods of severe weather, the company said.

Harris is the prime contractor for the ground segment of the program.

Shares rose 41 cents, or 1 percent, to $31 in afternoon trading.