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Satnews Daily
May 31st, 2018

U.S. Air Force Salutes Harris with a US$130 Million Contract to Develop Improved Hand-Held Video Data Link Radios


A 70-year partnership between Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) and the U.S. Air Force just got better with the announcement of a five-year, $130 million ceiling, single-award IDIQ contract to develop and deliver Hand Held Video Data Link (HH-VDL) radios that will significantly increase situational awareness and connectivity for warfighters. Harris has been a mission partner with the U.S. Air Force for 70 years – from inception of the Minuteman program to electronic warfare for the first B-52s and electronics for today’s F-35 fighter.

HH VDL radios will replace existing incumbent ground ISR terminals operating at the tactical edge of the battlespace, providing increased capability in a more mobile solution. The radios will leverage next-generation, proven Harris technology via Bandwidth Efficient Common Data Link (BE CDL) – a communications waveform that enables secure, real-time distribution of time-critical data and full-motion video. The company stresses its commitment to ensure the Air Force’s success in operations across any domain through the integration of air, space and cyber assets.

Additionally, the HH VDL radio will be fully Cryptographic Modernization Initiative (CMI) compliant. The new Harris HH VDL radio will securely deliver data to and from multiple airborne assets – creating an expanded, mobile communications network. This enables real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) information – such as full-motion video – to be distributed from the air to warfighters on the ground.

Chris Young, president, Harris Communication Systems said that this award reaffirms their commitment to tactical ISR and extends their networked handheld portfolio and waveform offerings. The ability to securely link air and ground assets with full-motion video and data provides an augmented site picture for commanders, and increases situational awareness for dismounted warfighters across the battlespace.