Harris Corporation receives $12 million order from US Marine Corps for upgrades to Falcon III AN/VRC-110 multiband vehicular radios

Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, has received a $12 million order from the US Marine Corps for upgrades to Falcon III AN/VRC-110 multiband, multimode vehicular tactical radio systems.

Harris will provide upgrade kits to the Marines to convert existing 20-watt AN/VRC-110 systems to 50-watt systems. This enhancement will allow users to establish voice and data links over wider distances and improve the reliability of secure tactical communications over rough terrain.

"Marines engage insurgents using smaller teams patrolling wider areas of operation -- and tactical ground radios form a vital link between forward deployed units and commanders," said Steve Marschilok, president, Department of Defense business, Harris RF Communications. "The upgrades will extend the combat-proven communications capabilities of the AN/VRC-110 system to ensure Marines are able to get mission-relevant information when and where they need it."

The AN/VRC-110 is a fully integrated, high-performance multiband vehicular radio system, consisting of an amplifier adapter and two JTRS-approved Falcon III AN/PRC-152 multiband handheld radios, which serve as handheld transceivers. The AN/VRC-110 enables warfighters to maintain communications in dismount operations by allowing the AN/PRC-152 handheld radios to be quickly removed while remaining powered on. The system's "jerk-and-run" capabilities in combination with its reliable long-range performance have proven the AN/VRC-110 highly-valuable to end users in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The combat-proven AN/PRC-152 is the most widely fielded JTRS-approved handheld radio with more than 100,000 units deployed. It provides advanced capabilities such as SINCGARS interoperability, ultra high-frequency (UHF) ground-to-ground line-of-sight communications, close-air support and programmable encryption. The AN/PRC-152 radio has an optional "high-band" capability that provides an increased frequency range ideal for interoperability with civilian law enforcement and public safety officials.

The Falcon III AN/VRC-110 multiband, multimode vehicular tactical radio systems has followed the US military's Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program's Enterprise Business Model (EBM) and operates on the JTRS Software Communications Architecture. By adhering to the DoD's open-standards approach to radio technology, the Harris Falcon III tactical ground radios and related systems give customers a future-focused technology platform that easily integrates pre-planned upgrades and new capabilities based on warfighters' emerging requirements, while offering compatibility with legacy radios. The Falcon III family of radios offers the flexibility to continuously and rapidly deliver on warfighters' evolving requirements.

Source: Harris Corp.