MCLEAN, Va., Feb. 16, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) announced today a contract award from global aerospace and defense company General Dynamics, to provide its newest satellite handset, the Iridium Extreme® 9575, redesigned exclusively for government use.  This new version is lighter, tougher, and more feature rich as well as less expensive, extending Iridium's position as a market leader in providing secure reliable, global communications for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

As a major provider of Iridium® satellite solutions and products, General Dynamics delivers global satellite communications services to the U.S. and foreign governments.  Their distribution network, combined with the Iridium satellite network, brings a strong partnership to the industry enabling life-saving communications products, and delivering vital information to the U.S. Government and the DoD.

"We are excited to work with General Dynamics in bringing a new secure mobile satellite handset to market," said Scott Scheimreif, executive vice president of government solutions at Iridium. "This upgraded version of the Iridium Extreme will continue to allow the U.S. soldier, airman and marine the ability to communicate securely through a device with a smaller, lighter form-factor - wherever their mission may take them, anywhere on the planet. In addition, they can now take advantage of improved technology and new capabilities, like location-based services, to help provide improved situational awareness across the battlefield. The U.S. Government is a very important customer, and we think this new device will provide mission-critical communications to the DoD and its partners for many years to come."

The Iridium network, a global constellation of 66 low-Earth orbit satellites, enables the only government-approved satellite handset for provision on the dedicated DoD Gateway. Iridium remains the only provider of an NSA accredited Type-1 mobile satellite phone in use today. The Iridium Extreme provides proven reliability and industrial-grade design to perform in the toughest of environments - essential for communications needs in combat zones.  The Iridium Extreme will replace the Iridium 9505A handset, in operation extensively around the world by the USG for over 15 years.

In 2013, Iridium was awarded a $400 million multi-year fixed-priced contract with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to provide satellite airtime services that meet the communications needs of the DoD and their federal partners.  The five-year contract renewed the provision for delivering Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services (EMSS) airtime. Iridium provides unlimited global secure and unsecure voice, low and high-speed data, paging and Distributed Tactical Communications Systems (DTCS) services for an unlimited number of DoD and other federal government subscribers.

For more information about Iridium, please go to www.iridium.com

About Iridium Communications Inc.

Iridium is the only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that spans the entire globe. Iridium enables connections between people, organizations and assets to and from anywhere, in real time. Together with its ecosystem of partner companies, Iridium delivers an innovative and rich portfolio of reliable solutions for markets that require truly global communications. The company has a major development program underway for its next-generation network — Iridium NEXT. Iridium Communications Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Va., U.S.A., and its common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol IRDM. For more information about Iridium products, services and partner solutions, visit www.iridium.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has based these statements on its current expectations and the information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements in this presentation include statements regarding the development and capabilities of the Iridium NEXT constellation and the development, deployment and capabilities of the Iridium Extreme for government use. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words "anticipates," "may," "can," "believes," "expects," "projects," "intends," "likely," "will," "to be" and other expressions that are predictions or indicate future events, trends or prospects. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Iridium to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding Iridium NEXT development and functionality, potential delays in the Iridium NEXT deployment, the development of and market for the Iridium Extreme for government use, and the company's ability to maintain the health, capacity and content of its satellite constellation, as well as general industry and economic conditions, and competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements include those factors listed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("the SEC") on February 26, 2015, and the Company's 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, filed with the SEC on October 29, 2015, as well as other filings Iridium makes with the SEC from time to time. There is no assurance that Iridium's expectations will be realized. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Iridium's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Iridium's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Iridium undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

Press contact:
Diane Hockenberry
Iridium Communications Inc.
+1 (703) 287-7421
Diane.Hockenberry@iridium.com