Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), an international communications and information technology company, has received $42 million in orders from an international customer for an end-to-end tactical information system that connects commanders with armed forces serving at the tactical edge.

The nation is acquiring the Harris Integrated Tactical Area Communications System (ITACS), which provides fully integrated IP-based voice, data, and video services across the battlefield. This system connects users to a high-capacity Tactical Internet, which supports a wide range of battlefield services, including telephony, video teleconferencing, messaging/email, common operational picture and command and control. ITACS is fully integrated with the latest Harris mobile ad-hoc networking radios and advanced combat net radios to connect to lower echelons.

ITACS provides a smooth migration from legacy, circuit-switched area communication systems using bulky radios to powerful IP systems. Modular and software-defined, the system addresses today’s customer missions while remaining upgradeable to emerging needs and requirements.

In a typical ITACS configuration, a Primary Access Node (PAN) connects the fixed/national voice/data networks (WAN) to the deployed ITACS network using various network interfaces (E1, ISDN, E3, etc). Each PAN then transfers the voice (transcoded to VoIP) and data traffic to one or more Mobile Command Centers (MCC) over HCLOS or fiber optic links. Tactical Network Relays (TNR) nodes are deployed between the PAN and MCCs to extend the high-capacity backbone link. The MCC provides Division, Brigade, and Battalion command staff with full VoIP telephony services, office applications (including email and word processing), and C3I/C4I applications such as situational awareness.

The Systems Management Center (SMC) supports the ITACS network by incorporating a host of applications that are used to manage the IP network, the tactical radio network, and associated information assurance parameters. The SMCs are located with selected MCCs depending on system requirements. Further communications to the tactical network are seamlessly bridged using the Harris RF-6010 Tactical Network Access Hub.

“ITACS extends the proven Falcon III® mobile, tactical networking capability across the entire battlefield command structure,’’ said Brendan O’Connell, president, international business, Harris RF Communications. “The system effectively creates a mobile Tactical Internet designed to meet mission-critical requirements in harsh and rugged tactical environments, providing unprecedented situational awareness, adaptability and maneuverability to commanders and their troops.’’

The system includes the new Harris Falcon III® RF-7800W High Capacity Line-of-Sight radio. The RF-7800W is a quick-to-deploy solution for high-capacity, long range networking requirements. With this radio, warfighters can establish secure point-to-point and point-to-multipoint data communication links over long distances, with exceptional throughput in excess of 180 megabits per second.

Harris RF-7800W systems have been deployed in more than 20 countries worldwide. They also are in use by all branches of the U.S. Department of Defense and have been an integral part of the U.S. Army Network Integration Evaluation exercises.