PREMIUM: France augments SOF capabilities
French SOF chiefs recognised a need to refresh equipment for operations on land, at sea and in the air.
Thales will equip US Army security force assistance brigades (SFAB) with the AN/PRC-148C Improved Multiband Inter-Intra Team Radio (IMBITR) under a $37 million contract announced on 12 December.
The dual-channel, certified networking radio will enhance communications at the tactical edge while providing joint and coalition forces interoperability.
The IMBITR is a variant of the Multiband Inter-Intra Team Radio. The two-channel handheld networking radio embeds the Tactical Scalable MANET Waveform. It will provide SFAB soldiers with narrowband and tactical satellite communications capabilities along with a second wideband channel providing a mobile, ad hoc networking waveform.
Together, these capabilities will provide assured, simultaneous networked voice, data and video communications for improved situational awareness and real-time decision making.
Mike Sheehan, president and CEO, Thales Defense and Security, said: ‘Thales is pleased to be part of this new mission for the army and with the Thales IMBITR radio, soldiers will benefit from a decisive tactical advantage that comes with using the most capable radio on the market.’
French SOF chiefs recognised a need to refresh equipment for operations on land, at sea and in the air.
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Israeli company expects to deliver its first functional Individual Weapon Overmatch Optic system to the US Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate by the end of 2021.
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