The US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command has awarded a contract to Harris to provide Falcon tactical radio systems operating in frequency ranges, including HF, VHF, UHF to the US Navy for enhancing interoperability and situational awareness.

Under the five-year $297m indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, the company will deliver Falcon III and II tactical radios, as well as accessories for ground personnel and small craft tactical requirements.

Radios include the Falcon III AN/PRC-117G wideband manpack, Falcon III AN/PRC-152 multiband handheld and Falcon II AN/PRC-150(C) high-frequency manpack units.

"The Falcon III AN/PRC-117G radio is a software-defined, upgradable voice and data platform designed to provide troops with new levels of situational awareness."

Harris RF Communications US Department of Defense business president George Helm said: "This contract enables the navy to deploy handheld, manpack, fixed mount/vehicular and base station radios for applications in high-frequency, very-high frequency, ultra-high frequency, line-of-sight and satellite communications."

The contract has been awarded as part of the portable radios programne (PRP), which acquires and installs radios for ships secure/non-secure voice communications for data, satellite and emergency in support of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

The Falcon III AN/PRC-117G radio is a software-defined, upgradable voice and data platform designed to support streaming video, simultaneous voice and data feeds, as well as combat net radio capabilities to provide troops with new levels of situational awareness.

SCA-compliant Type-1 multiband, multi-mission handheld radio, Falcon III AN/PRC-152 is currently operational with the US Department of Defense (DoD), allied nations, and US federal agencies.

The Falcon II AN/PRC-150(C) advanced military Type-1 HF radio has been designed to provide secure voice and data communications in adverse environment with continuous coverage for troops in the frequency range of 1.6 MHz to 60MHz.