Harris Corp., an international communications and information technology company, announced it has received certification from the National Security Agency (NSA) for the Harris RF-310M-HH, the world’s first tactical radio to utilize new encryption technology designed to simplify the enabling of communications interoperability within multinational coalitions. Harris and NSA collaborated on the new technology, which is based on a set of commercial algorithms and keying techniques defined as “Suite B.”
The Harris RF-310M-HH is a multiband, multi-mission, software-defined Suite B radio certified to transmit voice and data up to the US SECRET level. The objective of the Harris/NSA joint project is to make it easier for US forces and coalition partners to communicate on the battlefield, resulting in improved coordination, easier mission planning and reduced instances of friendly fire. These radios will be commercially available to coalition partners with limited restrictions and will enable secure communications with US troops using other equipment such as the JTRS-approved Falcon III® AN/PRC-152(C) handheld and AN/PRC-117G manpack radios.
The RF-310M-HH radio offers an easy-to-use, cost-effective way of transforming the ad-hoc nature of communications among coalition partners in conflicts such as the war in Afghanistan. This new radio will enable nations in the International Security Assistance Force to modernize and securely interoperate throughout the coalition.
The RF-310M-HH radio, covering the 30 to 512 MHz frequency range, leverages the expertise of Harris Corp. as the leading provider of software-defined tactical radios around the world. The RF-310M-HH is interoperable with the JTRS-approved AN/PRC-152(C) handheld and AN/PRC-117G manpack radios. There are more than 80,000 AN/PRC-152(C) radios deployed around the world.
The RF-310M-HH radio is based on the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and uses the Sierra 2B Core Software, recently certified by the NSA. The radio also includes the Type-3 APCO P25 waveform, enabling interoperability with public safety first responders. Because the RF-310M-HH is a software-defined radio built and compliant with the Software Communications Architecture (SCA), the radio is positioned to host other current and future waveforms.