General Dynamics has selected Iridium Communications to produce satellite handsets for exclusive use in government operations.
The new Iridium Extreme 9575 is intended to help update global satellite communications networks used by U.S. and foreign government agencies, Iridium said Tuesday.
Scott Scheimreif, executive vice president of government solutions at Iridium, said the redesigned Iridium Extreme is designed to help U.S. soldier, airman and marine communicate through a small device in a secure environment.
Iridium Extreme is the successor to the Iridium 9505A handset and intended for use on the company’s 66-satellite constellation for the Defense Department‘s dedicated gateway network.
Iridium provides National Security Agency-accredited Type-1 mobile satellite phone to U.S. agencies.