An AN/PRC-117G manpack radio. Photo: Harris

[Via Satellite 03-19-2014] Harris Corporation has completed initial interoperability testing of the Falcon 3 AN/PRC-117G multiband manpack radio using the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) waveform. MUOS is the next-generation U.S. Department of Defense military satellite communications system for delivering cellular-based service through tactical radios.

“Simple software upgrades will bring MUOS to more than 30,000 AN/PRC-117G radios already in use, giving the DoD the most cost-effective solution for rapidly transitioning its tactical satellite radio inventory to support this important new capability,” said George Helm, president, department of defense business, Harris RF Communications.

Last year the radio successfully completed separate on-air tests in San Diego and near the North Pole. The most recent round of testing was conducted at the Joint Tactical Networking Center MUOS Reference Implementation Laboratory in San Diego, Calif. Harris now begins a new round of tests on the AN/PRC-117G at the U.S. government MUOS system integration labs in Arizona.