For Special Operations – Communications First and Foremost

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Special Operations combatants need good communication technology that is suitable for on the move missions. Now, new software-defined radio systems are going to improve the communications capabilities of Special Operations Forces (SOF) in the US military. The Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has ordered from L3Harris Technologies handheld tactical radios, the Falcon IV AN/PRC-163 two-channel.

Falcon IV Family of Radios answers complex challenges of today’s warfighters with pioneering new technologies. 

The company has also secured an NGTC contract from USSOCOM to deliver multichannel next-generation manpack radios, which form a crucial part of the ecosystem of SOF-focused solutions that L3Harris is providing to USSOCOM. The multi-channel, software-defined AN/PRC-163 radio system enables advanced tactical communications and meets USSOCOM’s requirements for a two-channel, multiband, multifunction and multi-mission tactical radio.

The NGTC (Next Generation Tactical Communications) systems are capable of facilitating simultaneous communications over multiple channels and crossband. They also have the capability of satellite communications, VHF/UHF/L/S-band and multiple mobile ad-hoc networking (MANET) waveforms, including TSM-X and ANW2.

According to army-technology.com, the AN/PRC-163 features an easy-to-use interface and a flexible software-defined architecture that allows users to add new waveforms and capabilities. The mission modules will allow the addition of tailored applications for specific missions such as receiving ISR full-motion video.