Harris Corp., an international communications and information technology company, has been awarded a $218 M Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract by the US Marine Corps for its next generation, JTRS-approved Falcon® III Tactical radios. Under the contract, the company received two orders totaling $158 M.
Harris was chosen as the sole supplier of the handheld and vehicular radios, following a competitive bidding process. Harris will provide the US Marine Corps with its multiband, multi-mission, SINCGARS interoperable Falcon III AN/VRC-110, 20 W vehicular radio systems, which include Falcon III AN/PRC-152(C) multiband handheld radios. The IDIQ contracts calls for a maximum of 14,100 Falcon III AN/VRC-110 systems over three years.
Radio Systems delivered under this contract are slated to be installed into two new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAP) and used in other applications for the US Marine Corps. MRAP vehicles are designed to provide military personnel with greater protection against improvised explosive devices. These vehicles recently have been identified as the highest priority acquisition by the Secretary of Defense.
Harris is already providing Falcon radio systems for the US Navy MRAP vehicles. The US Marine Corps also will deploy Falcon III AN/VRC-110 radios to begin the transition and replacement of legacy SINCGARS radios. The AN/VRC-110 system expands the role of a traditional combat net radio from a single-mode SINCGARS VHF line-of-sight radio to a multi-mission radio with the capability to provide UHF line-of-sight communications, close-air support and tactical satellite communications, programmable encryption and software upgrades utilizing JTRS Software Communication Architecture (SCA). The Falcon III AN/VRC-110 handheld-based transceiver provides a quick “grab-and-go” feature allowing the Falcon III AN/PRC-152(C) handheld radio to offer continuous communications when removed from the vehicle, an important capability in urban environments.
“We are pleased to work with the US Marine Corps to help advance tactical communications into the future with new JTRS-approved, multiband handheld-based vehicular systems,” said George Helm, vice president and general manager of US Government Products for Harris RF Communications. “Harris Falcon III capabilities will help to ensure that commanders are connected to critical command and control applications in support of the US Marine Corps’ goal of empowering decision makers at every tactical level. The Harris Falcon III system will enhance the operational effectiveness of forward-deployed forces, while providing the US Marine Corps business planners a low risk investment for the future.”
The agreement is the second IDIQ contract recently awarded to Harris for its Falcon III radios. In June, Harris was awarded a contract by the Joint Program Executive Office of the Joint Tactical Radio System (JPEO JTRS) to supply tactical radios to the Department of Defense for use by all branches of the military.