General Dynamics Corp. won a $10 million contract from the National Security Agency to deploy interoperable information assurance software.

Under the contract, General Dynamics C4 Systems of Scottsdale, Ariz., will implement a new version of information assurance software on some of the agency’s network encryption equipment.

The software upgrade is expected to improve interoperability between networks and high assurance Internet protocol encryption equipment, while reducing the size of encrypted information packets that move across the network.

The upgrade also will enhance network connectivity for soldiers and commanders, and enable any in-network encryptor to manage network security operations.

Information assurance involves protecting and defending information systems by ensuring the integrity, authenticity and confidentiality of information. It not only involves the denial of service to unauthorized users but also the provision of service to authorized users.

High assurance Internet protocol encryption is part of a Defense Department initiative for secure and seamless communication for commercial and wide area networks.

General Dynamics C4 Systems is a unit of General Dynamics Corp, Falls Church, Va. The parent company, which has about 81,900 employees and had 2005 revenue of $21.2 billion, ranks No. 4 on Washington Technology’s 2006 Top 100 list of the largest federal IT contractors.