Rockwell Collins ANPRC162

Rockwell Collins Completes HMS Radio Qual Testing

Jan. 12, 2017
Rockwell Collins recently completed qualification testing (QT) on its AN/PRC-162 two-channel, SDR military communication systems.

In quest of a potential U.S. Army contract that could include orders for more than 60,000 portable manpack radios, Rockwell Collins has completed qualification testing (QT) on its AN/PRC-162 two-channel, software-defined-radio (SDR) military communication systems. The radios are based on the company’s TruNet networked communications family of products (see photo).

As part of the competition for the U.S. Army’s Handheld, Manpack, and Small Form Fit (HMS) program—a contract that could potentially be worth $12.7 billion—Rockwell recently delivered 30 of the portable SDR manpack systems for evaluation. The HMS contract competition now moves on to the customer test (CT) phase for product evaluation. The Army is authorized to procure more than 60,000 portable radios as part of a 10-year acquisition contract, with full-rate production of the radios expected to begin in fiscal year 2017.

Rockwell Collins’ candidate for the contract award is a rugged and versatile radio with the flexibility of software programmability of filters and modulation schemes. It can operate in broadband and narrowband modes, and with a wide range of waveforms, including for satellite communications (satcom) use.

“For years, we’ve delivered secure communications with the ARC-210, the most widely fielded radio in the airborne market,” said Troy Brunk, vice president and general manager for Rockwell Collins’ Communication and Navigation Solutions. “The AN/PRC-162 benefits directly from this technology baseline, as well as our proven experience integrating networked communication across the battlefield. Our TruNet product line represents a complete turnkey system solution utilizing both air and ground assets and using many common assemblies, parts, and manufacturing processes between them.”

About the Author

Jack Browne | Technical Contributor

Jack Browne, Technical Contributor, has worked in technical publishing for over 30 years. He managed the content and production of three technical journals while at the American Institute of Physics, including Medical Physics and the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. He has been a Publisher and Editor for Penton Media, started the firm’s Wireless Symposium & Exhibition trade show in 1993, and currently serves as Technical Contributor for that company's Microwaves & RF magazine. Browne, who holds a BS in Mathematics from City College of New York and BA degrees in English and Philosophy from Fordham University, is a member of the IEEE.

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