Night Vision, ISR, EW and SATCOM Also Feature
As delegates gather for AUSA 2019, L3Harris is providing the key communications components for the Army’s Integrated Tactical Network (ITN).
Jeff Smith, Vice President of Business Development, Communication Systems, told MON his company’s communications connect the soldier with voice and data at the edge to the airborne and brigade backbone. “Products providing this connectivity are the AN/PRC-158 HMS MANPACK, AN/PRC-163 LEADER RADIO, AN/PRC-160 HF radio, as well as the KOR-24A-STT (small tactical terminal). In addition, at AUSA L3Harris is showcasing our resilient SATCOM and interference mitigation capabilities […] L3Harris is more than assured ground tactical communications.” In fact, the company provides solutions in support of integrated night vision, ISR and advanced tactical data links, electronic warfare, free space optics, tactical SATCOM, manned and unmanned aerial communications.
In one of many programmes supporting the US Army, L3 Harris is on contract to deliver AN/PRC-158 multi-channel radios. “L3Harris is working closely with the Army and is well underway on its hardware deliveries for low rate initial production orders. These capabilities provide the ITN with the tactical network for soldiers at the edge through brigade,” Smith told MON.
In other US Army contract efforts, L3 Harris is delivering FALCON radios to the service and introduced its FALCON NET ECOSYSTEM this past winter. Mr Smith provided an update for MON on these efforts, noting L3Haris has delivered well over 600,000 tactical radios to the US Army. “These radios provide the connectivity for the FALCON NET ECOSYSTEM. The radios consist of SINCGARS, FALCON II/III radios as well as the new HMS [Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Fit] programme of record radio systems.”
L3Harris continues to cast a wide net for industry partners. The community subject matter expert further added L3Harris partners with key capability providers such as TrellisWare and integrators such as Oshkosh for vehicular systems. “At AUSA this year we will showcase our complete FALCON NET ECOSYSTEM integrated into the JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle) at the Oshkosh booth.”
Focusing on Army modernization activities, in one instance, L3Harris is participating in the manned-unmanned-teaming experimentation with the US Army’s C5ISR Center. Mr Smith again emphasized “Our participation is informing the Army on capabilities for manned and unmanned platforms.”
Asked to identify activities in this space to which MON readers should be attentive into mid-2020, he concluded L3Harris is continually evaluating the operational environment and making key investments in products to support combat troops’ missions. “Currently our focus is on resilient network capabilities, ensuring connectivity to the soldier and we continue to partner with the Army on these developments. L3Harris offers a broad array of products and full-suite solutions which support the Army’s six modernization priorities and the broader array of product offerings and full-suite solutions.”
Marty Kauchak
