Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, has introduced a multi-channel radio that will enable the U.S. Department of Defense to realize the fullest potential of the networked battlefield.
The new Harris Falcon III® Multi-channel Manpack radio was unveiled at the ongoing Association of the United States Army (AUSA 2013) conference in Washington, D.C. (21-23 October 2013).The new radio is the first commercially developed manpack to integrate two radio channels into a single chassis. This allows warfighters to send and receive voice and data over multiple networks simultaneously, creating a more complete common operational picture while dramatically enhancing situational awareness and mission command.
Developed under the Harris commercial business model, the Multi-channel Manpack is based on the company's combat-proven Falcon III® line of wideband networking radios.
“We applied real-life battlefield lessons to create a multi-channel radio that will transform military tactical communications. This new radio will provide warfighters with the same performance and innovation they have come to expect from Harris' field-proven Falcon III family of radios. This is truly the Department of Defense's (DoD) radio of tomorrow, delivered today,” said George Helm, President, Department of Defense Business, Harris RF Communications.
The Falcon III Multi-channel Manpack is one-third smaller than the program-of-record radio, hosts all required U.S. government wideband and narrowband waveforms and is expandable for future upgrades and capabilities. The radio supports multi-channel cross-banding to improve range, interoperability and performance. Each channel supports the full suite of waveforms without requiring expensive add-on appliqués. The Multi-channel Manpack requires only a single battery, minimizing size and weight for the dismounted soldier.
Harris developed the new radio to meet the requirements of the DoD's Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Factor radio program. The company recently was awarded a $140 million contract to provide a 2-channel Falcon III radio solution for the Army's Mid-Tier Networking Vehicle Radio program.
