Part of Army LEADER Radio Contract
Harris Corporation announced on 20 September that it has won a US Army order for 1,540 AN/PRC-163 handheld two-channel radios under the service’s two-channel LEADER radio indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. The order includes the radios themselves plus vehicle mounting kits and support services.
The versatile AN/PRC-163 enables users to send information up and down the chain of command as well as across the battlefield network backbone. It incorporates secure two-channel connectivity in a lightweight, easy to use, handheld rugged form. The radio can simultaneously transmit voice, data and situational awareness through Mobile Ad-Hoc Networking (MANET) applications, VHF/UHF line-of-sight and legacy SATCOM, while offering a path to future software-only updates for MUOS, SATURN and other emerging waveforms.
The award further extends Harris’ leadership in software-defined tactical communications and builds upon the company’s proven ability to engineer and deliver two-channel, next-generation handheld, manpack and vehicular radios. Harris was previously awarded contracts by US Special Operations Command for next-generation handheld and manpack radios, and won a position on the Army’s HMS Manpack IDIQ with its two-channel AN/PRC-158 manpack radio.
“The AN/PRC-163 is the most advanced software-defined handheld radio in the world today and will provide our warfighters and commanders with unprecedented capabilities, including enhanced levels of command and control, and situational awareness,” commented Harris Communication Systems’ President, Dana Mehnert. “The award of the two-channel LEADER radio contract is an important milestone in the modernisation of the Army’s tactical network…”
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