General Dynamics JTRS HMS Rifleman Radios Complete Formal Operational Testing

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The JTRS HMS AN/PRC-154 Rifleman radio by General Dynamics C4 Systems completed its Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) during the U.S. Army's recently concluded Network Integration Evaluation at Fort Bliss, Texas.  The Rifleman radio, one of the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit (HMS) family of radios, is the first JTRS radio to use the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) to enable secure networked communications among platoon, squad and team-level soldiers and their leaders.  The IOT&E is the last formal test required by the military before the radios enter full-rate production.

"We're getting great feedback from soldiers who prefer the Rifleman radio, rather than lugging bulky wideband handheld radios that require extra batteries," said Chris Brady, vice president of Assured Communications for General Dynamics C4 Systems. "With the Rifleman Radio, soldiers can connect their cell phone or computer and join the network—anywhere they fight."

Members of the 2^nd Brigade, 1^st Armored Division (2/1 AD) evaluated the AN/PRC-154 Rifleman radio in a variety of tactical exercises that included convoy operations, reconnaissance, counterinsurgency and medical evacuation missions. In a recent Army announcement, Capt. Ryan McNally, a company commander with the 2/1 AD, said the ability to communicate with the radios instead of shouting or using hand-and-arm signals had altered his soldiers' tactical approach to their missions.

"We have to factor in being able to talk to each other over a distance, rather than everybody being essentially co-located with a limited amount of space and distance between them. Now we can expand that space and distance. We can cover a larger area," McNally said.

In the same report a 2/1 AD platoon leader, 2nd Lt. Travis V. Mount, said the technology showing the positions of his troops allowed him to save time by immediately adapting and executing his plans rather than tracking down personnel first.

"No matter what kind of organization you're running, if you have dismounts who are going to be on the ground you like to be able to see where your personnel are," Mount said. "If all I need is information on their position, I don't have to go through an intermediary. I can on the spot adapt my plan."

In June 2011, the JTRS HMS program achieved a Milestone C decision, enabling the Low Rate Initial Production of 6,250 AN/PRC-154 Rifleman and 100 AN/PRC-155 Manpack radios. JTRS HMS radios take full advantage of the government's library of waveforms, including the Soldier Radio Waveform, and in the future, the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) and Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) critical to communicating on the Army's emerging tactical communications network.

General Dynamics C4 Systems is prime contractor for the JTRS HMS program. The JTRS HMS team includes BAE Systems (Wayne, N.J.); Rockwell Collins (Cedar Rapids, Iowa); and Thales Communications (Clarksburg, Md.).

The full Army announcement is available online at www.dvidshub.net/news/80654/rifleman-radio-completes-key-operational-test-nie.

For more information about JTRS HMS radios by General Dynamics C4 Systems, please visit www.gdradios.com.

General Dynamics C4 Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). Information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.

SOURCE General Dynamics C4 Systems