Harris Corp., an international communications and information technology company, has received orders from the US Marine Corps totaling $21 M for additional Falcon III AN/PRC-117G multiband manpack radios, vehicular amplifier adapters and other accessories. The Marine Corps will acquire the systems as part of its accelerating transition to high-speed, wideband networked tactical communications. The orders were received in July, August and September.
The AN/PRC-117G radio provides warfighters with unprecedented situational awareness of the battlefield by enabling applications such as streaming video, simultaneous voice and data feeds, collaborative chat, and connectivity to secure networks. The wideband networking capabilities of the AN/PRC-117G give warfighters critical real-time information through a man-portable radio that is smaller, lighter and more capable than legacy units. The AN/PRC-117G is the first JTRS Software Communications Architecture (SCA)-certified and NSA Type-1 certified wideband manpack radio system.
“The continued deployment of the AN/PRC-117G radio will provide more Marines with the advanced interoperable communications they need for current and future mission success,” said Brendan O’Connell, President, Department of Defense business, Harris RF Communications. “The radio expands the availability of next-generation combat applications that will result in better coordination and communication in the heat of battle. In addition, AN/PRC-117G is software-defined, offering the flexibility to continuously and rapidly deliver on evolving requirements and emerging mission needs.”
The AN/PRC-117G is also upgradeable via new Harris Mission Modules, which provide additional functionality such as a second wideband channel. The Mission Modules attach to the AN/PRC-117G through an open, standardized and interchangeable architecture. This allows users to take only the capabilities they need into the field, while optimizing size, weight and power capabilities. The Falcon III AN/PRC-117G and the entire Falcon III® family of radios are becoming the standard for advanced tactical communications throughout the world, having been widely adopted by the US Department of Defense, federal agencies and key allies such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. The AN/PRC-117G manpack radio was developed following the US Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program’s Enterprise Business Model (EBM). The EBM encourages companies to develop next-generation solutions in tactical communications using their own investment capital. In doing so, the EBM encourages competition, increases innovation, reduces costs and speeds development of important capabilities.