General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) has delivered 30 new two-channel digital Manpack networking radios to the US Army for evaluation, marking the first deliveries under the company’s March 2016 production contract award, it announced on 25 May.
The radio is based on the company’s fielded AN/PRC-155 two-channel networking radio. More than 5,000 PRC-155 radios have been delivered to the army under a previous low-rate initial production order. The radios can communicate using the MUOS network.
Paul Parent, vice president of radio products, GDMS, said: ‘The General Dynamics radios incorporate the secure, network communications capabilities of the AN/PRC-155 along with technology and functionality improvements suggested by soldiers who have used the PRC-155 in combat.
‘By leveraging a proven radio design, the General Dynamics digital radio is the most capable and cost-effective next-generation tactical radio for the army.’
The AN/PRC-155 radio demonstrated its capabilities during a joint naval-army operational test in November 2015. It was also used at an army demonstration in February 2016 for communications in land-based locations and aboard army vessels.
AN/PRC-155 Two-Channel Manpack Radio