The US Army has selected three companies - Harris, General Dynamics and Rockwell Collins - to compete for a potential ten-year, $12.7 billion contract to provide tactical radio systems, accessories and support services, it was announced on 29 February.
The US Department of Defense said that the companies will compete for task orders under the army’s Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Fit (HMS) radio procurement initiative. Initially, each firm will manufacture 30 two-channel, software-based military communication radios for qualification testing. The companies that meet the army’s HMS radio system requirements will move into the next phase of the competition and produce another 60 systems for further tests.
The army contracting command will provide performance location and funds on the award of each order, while the programme will run until 20 March 2026. The army expects to acquire almost 65,000 HMS Manpack radios under the contract.
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