L3Harris’ two-channel AN/PRC-163 handheld radio. Photo: L3Harris

L3Harris announced Dec. 9 it has received a $57 million order from the U.S. Army to continue delivering its Falcon IV AN/PRC-163 two-channel handheld radios.

This is the company’s third low-rate initial production deal for the AN-PRC-163 handheld radios, with deliveries expected to begin in early 2021. The product is capable of satellite communications, mobile ad-hoc networking (MANET) waveforms and the Army’s SINCGARS waveform.

“The AN/PRC-163 is the most capable handheld radio in the market. It provides warfighters with a broad range of secure interoperable communications capabilities today and the ability to host resilient waveforms required to address evolving future requirements,” Dana Mehnert, L3Harris’ president for Communication Systems, said in a statement.

L3Harris is currently providing its software-defined AN/PRC-163 handheld radios and AN/PRC-158 manpack radios under the $3.9 billion Leader Radio program, which also includes Collins Aerospace and France’s Thales, to begin building up its new Integrated Tactical Network (ITN).

Jeff Smith, L3Harris’ vice president of business development for Communications Systems, told Defense Daily earlier this year the company is expecting a full-rate production decision for the two-channel Leader radios in 2021 as the Army looks to field large quantities throughout the service to solidify the ITN.

This article was originally published by our sister publication Defense Daily.