US Army places another IMBITR order
Thales has obtained its third delivery order from the US Army to provide the two-channel AN/PRC-148D Improved Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio (IMBITR) under the Army Leader Radio programme.
This brings the number of IMBITR radio orders to more than 6,000, Thales noted on 26 January. About 4,800 IMBITR radios are operationally deployed to support the Security Force Assistance Brigade and Infantry Brigade Combat Team/Stryker Brigade Combat Teams.
Thales provided IMBITR to multiple operationally deployed units to generate soldier feedback for testing and risk reduction prior to Operational Test and Evaluation by the US Army in January 2021.
‘Important capability feedback from Soldier Touch Points – both as a standalone radio as well as a device integrated into the ITN architecture – was highly positive affirming IMBITR’s ability to provide cutting-edge tactical communications for mounted or dismounted soldiers,’ the company claimed.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that IMBITR is a variant of the Multiband Inter-Intra Team Radio and the first two-channel handheld networking radio that embeds the Tactical Scalable MANET waveform.
Thales was awarded a low-rate initial production contract in December 2019 under the Army Leader Radio programme. Ultimately, up to 90,000 radio sets are planned to be acquired.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Digital Battlespace
-
Jacobs wins MoD cyber-security support contract
The deal with Jacobs will run until November 2027 and will see the company deliver a range of digital and IT specialist professional services to Defence Digital.
-
Norway to receive maritime surveillance satellite data from Kongsberg
Norway's Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace has announced that its subsidiary Kongsberg NanoAvionics will produce three satellites and launch them in 2025.
-
First South Korean 425 Project observation satellite launched
In 2015, South Korea named a consortium of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Systems, along with Thales Alenia Space providing the SAR payload derived from its HE-R1000 product, as preferred bidder to develop new Korea 425 Project reconnaissance satellites.
-
German military introduces central command and new cyber branch
The German defence minister claimed the reforms would mean the 2025 military budget would require an additional €6.5 billion (US$7 billion).