The Air Force recently awarded Harris [HRS] a $6.5 million contract for Falcon III AN/PRC-152(C) multiband, multi-mission handheld radios, according to a company statement.
The service is acquiring the radios to provide line-of-sight communications to civil engineering teams for a range of ground-based missions, such as fire and emergency management and explosive ordinance disposal.
The Air Force is acquiring the radios via the Consolidated Single Channel Handheld Radios Project through the Joint Program Executive Office Joint Tactical Radio System (JPEO JTRS). The AN/PRC-152(C) is the most widely-fielded National Security Agency (NSA) Type-1 certified, JTRS SCA-certified handheld radio, according to Harris.
“The AN/PRC-152(C) is part of the broader Falcon III family of radios, which addresses current operational and emerging requirements for voice and wideband data networking on the battlefield,” George Helm, president of Harris RF Communications’ Defense Department business, said in a statement.
The AN/PRC-152(C) provides 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(C) was developed using the JTRS Enterprise Business Model, which encourages companies to develop next-generation solutions in tactical communications using their own investment capital to integrate JTRS waveform software.