Army awards big production contract for Rifleman infantry software-defined radio communications
April 30, 2015
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., 30 April 2015. U.S. Army radio communications experts are moving forward with mass production of
the Rifleman software-defined radio for handheld use by infantry
warfighters with substantial contracts Wednesday to two manufacturers.
Officials of the Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving
Ground, Md., announced a potential $3.9 billion contract with
options to Harris RF Communications in Rochester, N.Y., and to
Thales Defense & Security Inc. in Clarksburg, Md., to produce
Rifleman radios.
The two companies will compete for Rifleman radio orders over the
next 10 years to provide infantry soldiers with voice, text, and
imagery over handheld software-defined radios.
The Rifleman software-defined radio is more like a communications
computer than a traditional handheld radio. It uses software
applications called waveforms to change functionality and operating bands.
Thales offers the AN/PRC-154 Rifleman radio, which delivers
networked communications and situational awareness. It enables
self-forming, self-healing, ad-hoc, simultaneous voice and data
networks, provides software-defined capability for upgradeability
and interoperability, provides low-cost Joint Tactical Radio System
(JTRS) networking, integrates embedded encryption and GPS, and
provides networked voice and data communications for foot soldiers.
The Harris Rifleman radio is the RF-330E-TR wideband team radio,
which provides a long-lasting, lightweight, handheld connection to the
wideband network -- including secret and below information. It provides
a low-cost way for warfighters at the tactical edge to get the wideband
communications capability.
The Thales AN/PRC-154 Rifleman radio is a low-cost, lightweight, body
-worn radio that transmits voice and data simultaneously with the
Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW). It brings secure Type 2 squad-level
communications to the soldier at the tactical edge of the battlefield network.
The radio enables team leaders at the tactical level to track individual
soldier position location information, providing situational awareness.
It is a core component of the Army’s soldier modernization program
and has been proven in Afghanistan.
The Harris RF-330E-TR radio offers share and access Type 1 secret and
below, stays connected during mission while minimizing weight. Its battery
life is as long as 20 hours, and it is designed to enhance situational awareness
for every squad member with simultaneous voice, high-speed data, and position
location information.
The Thales AN/PRC-154 Rifleman radio offers continuous transmission of
position location information for situational awareness and blue-force tracking,
supports hands-free display and external computer interface, has audio indicators
for preset, GPS position, and battery status, participates in one voice talk call
group while simultaneously monitoring other talk groups, is software
programmable and upgradeable, and operates with standard USB and RS-232
devices for display use and radio control.
The Harris RF-330E-TR Rifleman radio offers dashboard display,, push-button
view of battery life and network status, 30-40-second time to readiness to form
or join a network and 3 minutes from cold start, and is interoperable with all
Soldier Radio Waveform devices.
On this contract funding and work location will be determined with each order
with an estimated completion date of April 2025. For more information contact
Thales Defense & Security online at www.thalescomminc.com, Harris RF
Communications athttp://rf.harris.com, or the Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen athttp://acc.army.mil/contractingcenters/acc-apg.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário