[SatNews] The DoD authorized the Army to procure up to 6,250 Rifleman Radios from...

Thales Communications, Inc. announces the award by prime contractor General Dynamics C4 Systems for Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of the AN/PRC-154 Rifleman Radio.

Developed as part of the Joint Tactical Radio System Handheld, Manpack, and Small Form Fit (JTRS HMS) program with General Dynamics, the Rifleman Radio is a lightweight, networking, body-worn radio designed to extend the tactical network down to the lowest echelons — the dismounted individual soldier.

In June, the JTRS HMS program received a Milestone C decision from the U.S. Department of Defense, which authorized the Army to procure up to 6,250 Rifleman Radios. Following that decision, General Dynamics received an LRIP contract for 6,250 Rifleman Radios, which will be manufactured by both Thales Communications and General Dynamics.

By design, the JTRS HMS System Design and Development and LRIP contract efforts will yield two qualified production sources. This provides the Government with robust competition from multiple qualified sources for full rate production.A core component of the Army’s soldier modernization program, the Rifleman Radio transmits voice and data simultaneously utilizing the Soldier Radio Waveform. The radio is designed to bring secure (Type 2) inter-squad communications to any warfighter on the tactical edge of the battlefield. It creates self-forming, ad hoc, voice, and data networks in any battlefield scenario and enables Team Leaders to track individual soldier position location information, giving dismounted soldiers a much-needed situational awareness capability on the battlefield. “The Rifleman Radio represents the very latest technology, benefiting from close collaboration with users and rigorous Government testing,” said Michael Sheehan, President and CEO of Thales Communications, Inc.

The Rifleman Radio has undergone an extensive series of formal Government tests, including various operational network integration exercises, one of which was an exercise conducted by the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. In a follow-up report by the unit’s commanding officer, Maj. Gen. James L. Huggins said that the radios performed in “remarkable fashion,” effectively filling critical communications gaps that are unmet by current tactical communication systems.