Harris to Supply US Army With Falcon-III PRC-117G Radios

AN/PRC-117G concept

Harris Corp recently received a basic purchasing agreement contract worth up to $419 million to supply the US Army with Falcon III AN/PRC-117G [data sheet, PDF] multiband tactical manpack radios, and vehicular power-amplifier adapter systems. The initial delivery order under the contract is valued at $165 million. Radio systems from this order will be deployed by the Army for missions worldwide to provide next-generation, high-speed tactical satellite and voice-and-data communications.

The AN/PRC-117G manpack radio is about half the size of currently fielded multiband systems, and has a frequency range of 30 MHz – 2 GHz. The radio supports streaming video, imagery, biometrics, logistics and other data-intensive applications. The Falcon III-R AN/PRC-117G-C is a JTRS-approved manpack radio that incorporates the Harris Advanced Networking Wideband Waveform (ANW2) for mobile ad-hoc networking, which provides secure IP data to the tactical Internet at on-air rates up to 10 Megabits per second (Mbps). This high data rate is joined with mobile ad-hoc networking, automated network establishment and maintenance, and integrated security. In addition, the AN/PRC-117G-C and its software-defined architecture offers interoperability with currently fielded radios, incorporating SINCGARS, Havequick II, and the High Performance Waveform (HPW), as well as MIL-STD-181B Tactical Satellite (TACSAT) capability. For encryption, the AN/PRC-117G-C uses the Harris Sierra II software-programmable encryption module. In January 2008, Harris announced its NSA certification, and the PRC-117G was part of a 10-day Army exercise in December 2007 that focused on integrating new networking technologies with the Patriot Missile System.

Up to $90M to Harris for USMC Multiband Radio Vehicular Installation Kits

Falcon II Multiband Radio
(click to view larger)

Harris Corp.’s RF Communications Division in Rochester, NY received a 5-year, $90 million ceiling firm-fixed-priced, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for up to 3,385 AN/PRC-117F multiband radio vehicular installation kits from the US Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) in Quantico, VA. In addition, Harris will provide associated documentation, technical and training support, training manuals, spares, and other ancillary items.

Harris also recently received a contract worth up to $419 million to supply the next-generation Falcon III AN/PRC-117G multiband tactical manpack radios and vehicular power-amplifier adapter systems. “US Contracts for Next-Gen Tactical Radio Upgrades” has more on next-generation tactical radios.

The Falcon III AN/PRC-117F [pdf] is a multiband manpack software-defined radio covering the 30 MHz to 512 MHz frequency spectrum…

Coroner Delivers Scathing Indictment of UK Nimrod Fleet, Procedures

Nimrod MR2 – incoming!

On Sept 3/06, an RAF Nimrod MR2 sea control aircraft was flying near Kandahar, Afghanistan, using its advanced sensors and long endurance in support of NATO ISAF forces on land. The aircraft moved to take on additional fuel from an aerial tanker, in order to remain on station longer. That’s when the trouble began. Alerts soon began to sound, and the crew remained professional and businesslike as they steered their ailing plane toward Kandahar for an emergency landing. They never arrived. RAF Nimrod #XV230 exploded in mid-air over Afghanistan, killing all 14 crew members.

Britain’s Nimrod sea control aircraft fleet first entered service in 1969. In the aftermath of the inquests and inquiries that have followed the September 2006 explosion, however, serious questions have been raised concerning the Nimrod’s fleet’s ongoing fitness, and the measures taken to maintain these aging aircraft.

The problems have continued to pile up for the RAF. Beyond a scathing coroner’s report, a set of High Court filings by the UK MoD admit to failures in the RAF’s duty of care. Those are weighty legal words, and now an official independent review has delivered its verdict…

• Nimrod #XV230: What the Coroner Said
  
• Updates and New Developments
  

US Air Force Exercises 2nd Option Year on $90M Mainstream CPI Contract

The US Air Force has exercised a second option year on a $90 million 5-year contract (FA8224-07-D-0001) for Mainstream GS in Bethesda, MD, to provide continuous process improvement (CPI) services. CPI is intended to improve the efficiency of how the USAF works as an organization.

A main portion of Mainstream’s work involves support for the Air Force Smart Operations 21 (AFSO21) program, which is based on both Lean and Six Sigma business process improvement tools.

In an interview, Mainstream President Alan Horowitz told DID that his company is supplying the USAF a number of CPI services, include Lean and Six Sigma consulting, training, facilitation, and planning…

MWH Americas, ARGO/LRS to Compete for $3B in USAF Environmental Work

MWH Americas in Broomfield, CO and ARGO/LRS JV in Glen Burnie, MD have joined 42 other companies in being eligible to compete for $3 billion in US Air Force environmental work.

The two companies received contracts from the US Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment at Brooks City-Base, TX to compete for task orders to provide environmental requirements that include completion of conceptual design, construction, implementation, demolition, repair and operation and maintenance of installed systems prior to delivery to the government.

The work includes environmental remediation construction at US military facilities…