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The US Department
of Defense selected Harris and Thales Communications Inc. as
the two contenders to compete for multiyear deliveries of new
'multiband radios' to the US armed forces, as part of Joint
Tactical Radio System (JPEO JTRS). The Consolidated, Interim,
Single-Channel, Handheld Radio (CISCHR) award has consolidated
all handheld radio purchases for the U.S. Department of Defense,
thus accelerating the transition to JTRS technology, while significantly
reducing unit costs by allowing all participating agencies to
purchase compatible JTRS equipment through the Space and Naval
Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) procurement authority.
Both companies are expected to deliver JTRS compliant systems,
which will support existing waveforms (SINCGARS) and UHF line-of-sight
communications supporting ground-to-air communications for close-air
support and tactical satellite communications. The systems will
feature JTRS Software Communications Architecture (SCA), thus
accepting all future JTRS capabilities as they are fielded.
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CISCHR IDIQ contract, Thales and Harris will compete for future
awards of formal delivery orders, which will ultimately determine
contract value. CISCHR has a one-year contract period with four
additional one-year options. Currently, only Harris and Thales
have JEM compatible radios. In the future more competitors will
be added to the programs, as more systems from other providers
will be certified as ready for fielding and compatible with
JTRS and JEM.
Harris was awarded $2.7 billion while Thales Communications
Inc. received $3.5 billion to cover the first year procurement.
Both orders are representing framework awards, enabling the
two companies to compete on segments of the five year program,
totaling $7 for Harris and $9 billion for Thales. This is the
first production contract vehicle issued by the Joint Program
Executive Office for the next-generation, software-defined radios.
Harris is offering the Falcon
III AN/PRC-152(C) backpack radio and AN/VRC-110 50-watt
vehicular radios. Later in JUly 2007 the company received an
additional IDIQ contract for a projected procurement of up to
$212 million Falcon III radios over three years for the Marine
Corps. Harris will supply the Falcon III series AN/VRC-110 20-watt
vehicular radio systems. The Falcon III AN/VRC-110 handheld-based
transceiver provides a quick "grab-and-go" feature
allowing the Falcon III AN/PRC-152(C) handheld radio to offer
continuous communications when removed from the vehicle, an
important capability in urban environments. These radios are
destined for the new Mine Resistant
Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAP).
Under the IDIQ framework Thales Communications, Inc. is offering
its AN/PRC-148 Joint Tactical
Radio System (JTRS) Enhanced Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio
(JEM) system to all services of the U.S. Military. There
are almost 100,000 AN/PRC-148 MBITRs fielded, almost 10,000
AN/PRC-148 JEMs shipped or on order, and more than 12,000 VAAs
shipped or on order. As part of this contract, Thales will also
be supplying its dual radio AN/VRC-111 Vehicle Adapter Amplifier
(VAA) and Base Station enabling units to convert SINGCARS installations
to JTRS.
The VAA consists of two Thales Vehicle Adapters, two JEM handheld
radios, and a SINCGARS interface tray. This installation supports
multi-band and multimode capability, beyond the basic SINCGARS
performance. The VAA configuration retains the dismounted operation
capability of the AN/PRC-148 utilizing the cable-free radio
dismount. The power-boosting Base Station, designed for fixed
command center operations, supports and maintains all functionality
of the JEM and Vehicle Adapter. The JEM, VAA, Vehicle Adapter,
and Base Station are part of a complete system solution for
the warfighter that also includes a self-contained Tactical
Repeater for range extension; compact, rugged Man Portable System
for dismounted operations requiring higher power output; and
a complete line of accessories.
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