L3Harris Technologies [LHX] is to supply its Falcon IV portable radios to the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) to enable its pilots to connect to the Air Force Command Control System (ABMS), the company said.
The radios will include next-generation waveforms, improve the resilience of tactical end networks, and ensure secure interoperability of ground-to-air communications for close air support, according to L3Harris.
Such radios must equip tactical airmen of the air control party for the mission of the joint terminal attack controller.
The company received $ 42 million for the radio stations, $ 10 million under a contract last year with the Navy’s Command System Portable Radio Program in support of the Air Force.
The Air Force’s fiscal budget for 2022 requires $ 204 million for ABMS – an increase of $ 46 million compared to fiscal 2021. ABMS is the component of the Air Force’s joint command and control of the Pentagon, or JADC2, the Internet of Things that should speed up decision-making.
Last week, the Department of Defense said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had approved the Pentagon’s JADC2 strategy. (Defense Daily, June 4).
L3Harris said that “The Air Force’s Special Warfare Office uses the Falcon IV family and C4I intercom equipment to provide secure communications in support of global access, precision strike and personnel recovery.
“AN / PRC-163 and AN / PRC-167 are multi-channel, software-defined radios that use NSA-certified Type-1 encryption, which allows reduced SWaP [size, weight, and power], multi-band and multi-mission communications. The familiar but improved radio interface is easy to use, and the flexible software-defined architecture allows users to quickly add new waveforms. The radios provide a flexible communication platform for combined joint management of all domains (CJADC2) for voice and network connectivity with the US Army and other armed forces. “
Dana Menert, president of communication systems for L3Harris, said in a statement that “AN / PRC-163 and AN / PRC-167 provide maximum flexibility in the construction of CJADC2.”
Last month, Air Force Chief of Staff General Charles K. Brown Jr. said the Air Force would begin deploying ABMS. The service eavesdropped on Brig. General Jeffrey Valencia to lead the demands and efforts for the integration of ABMS fighters