Harris Corporation Receives $23 Million Order From U.S. Department of Defense for Falcon III Handheld Tactical Radios Compatible With Suite B Encryption Standard

Harris Corporation HRS has received a $23 million order to supply the U.S. Department of Defense with additional Falcon III® multiband, multi-mission, software-defined radios compatible with Suite B encryption. The DoD is acquiring RF-310M-HH radios to provide simplified communications interoperability and information security handling in a range of ground-based applications. The RF-310M-HH is the first and only tactical radio certified by the National Security Agency as compatible with Type-1, Suite B encryption. The RF-310M offers U.S. Secret and below interoperability with tactical radios such as the Falcon III® AN/PRC-152(C) handheld and AN/PRC-117G manpack radios. As an added benefit, because Suite B utilizes the commercial Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), the RF-310M-HH is considered a Non-Controlled Cryptographic Item. This designation allows the radio to be provided to a wider-range of U.S. personnel and coalition partners, thus offering a reduced management burden and greater flexibility in employment. "With its programmable encryption technology, Software Communications Architecture (SCA) and coverage of the entire 30-512 MHz frequency range, the RF-310M-HH addresses interoperability challenges presented in coalition and inter-agency operations," said Brendan O'Connell, president, Department of Defense business, Harris RF Communications. "The RF-310M is based upon the same platform as the NSA-certified Type-1 AN/PRC-152(C). This will allow for commonality in logistics and reduced administrative and training costs."