The Government Circuit: Trump’s Trade War Disrupts the Electronics Ecosystem
Defense Speak Interpreted: Update on the Continuing Resolution and Budget Process for Defense
American Made Advocacy: Reshoring—About Trust, Not Just Geography
L3Harris Technologies Awarded Third LRIP Order on Radio Contract
December 14, 2020 | L3Harris TechnologiesEstimated reading time: 1 minute
L3Harris Technologies has received a $57 million competitive award for its Falcon IV® AN/PRC-163 two-channel handheld radios, along with related equipment and services, as part of the U.S. Army’s two-channel Leader radio IDIQ contract. Delivery is expected to begin in early 2021.
The versatile AN/PRC-163 enables warfighters to share information up and down the chain of command, integrating voice and data across the Army’s Integrated Tactical Network (ITN). The radio enables robust command and control by integrating seamlessly into soldier systems such as the Army’s Nett Warrior and Enhanced Night Vision Goggle – Binocular (ENVG-B) programs.
A key component of the ITN, the AN/PRC-163 delivers advanced networking and wideband and narrowband satellite communications in a compact form factor. It can simultaneously communicate over multiple channels and crossband between them, offering up and down echelon connectivity. It is capable of satellite communications, mobile ad-hoc networking (MANET) waveforms and the Army’s SINCGARS waveform. It also offers a path to future software-only updates for SATCOM, SATURN and other anti-jam and resilient waveforms.
“The AN/PRC-163 is the most capable handheld radio in the market. It provides warfighters with a broad range of secure interoperable communications capabilities today and the ability to host resilient waveforms required to address evolving future requirements,” said Dana Mehnert, President, Communication Systems, L3Harris.
This is the third Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) order for L3Harris after two previous delivery orders on this contract. The IDIQ contract includes a 5-year base and an additional 5-year option, with a ceiling of $3.9 billion. The Army expects to purchase approximately 100,000 two-channel Leader Radios under the IDIQ.
The award further extends L3Harris’ leadership in software-defined tactical communications and builds upon the company’s proven ability to engineer and deliver advanced two-channel handheld, manpack and vehicular radios. L3Harris previously was awarded contracts by the U.S. Special Operations Command for next-generation handheld and manpack radios and was awarded a position on the Army’s HMS Manpack IDIQ for its two-channel AN/PRC-158 manpack radio.
Share on:
Suggested Items
NASA Aims to Fly First Quantum Sensor for Gravity Measurements
04/18/2025 | NASAA lumpy, colorful 3D model of the Earth against a black background, illustrating variations in gravity. North and South America are visible. Red areas show higher gravity, blue areas show lower gravity.
Northrop Grumman to Equip Australian C-130J Fleet with Radio Frequency Countermeasures System
04/07/2025 | Northrop GrummanNorthrop Grumman Corporation has been selected by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to provide the AN/ALQ-251 advanced radio frequency countermeasures system for its C-130J airlifter fleet.
Würth Elektronik Presents its Setebos-I FeatherWing
04/02/2025 | Wurth ElektronikWürth Elektronik expands its range of FeatherWings with the Setebos-I radio module. Developers using the practical plug-in boards for fast prototyping benefit from the combined functionality of the manufacturer’s two tried and tested radio modules.
Intelsat, Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Deploy Satellite Communications at Mexican Border
03/12/2025 | BUSINESS WIREIntelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest satellite and terrestrial networks, and the Cochise County, Arizona Sheriff’s Office launched the use of Intelsat’s Multi-Layer Communication System (MLCS) to enable border security forces to safely operate and communicate in extreme, remote environments where radio, cellular and infrastructure services do not exist.
Happy Holden: How I Became an Engineer
02/11/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineWhat drives someone to become an engineer, particularly a PCB engineer? For industry icon Happy Holden, it was growing up in a family that couldn’t afford a TV but that lived close to a library and a movie theater. It allowed a curious boy the time and space to entertain his interests in science fiction and take things apart to see how the world really worked. As we guide and mentor today’s and future generations, his counsel is definitely worth considering.