CLARKSBURG, Md., 24 July 2009. Thales Communications Inc. in Clarksburg, Md., will provide the U.S. Army with military wireless communications to enable soldiers to leave their vehicles while maintaining secure communications over the vehicle radio communications intercom system and the vehicle's combat Army network radio.

This Army radio capability is called the Mounted Soldier Cordless Communication System, which Thales is providing under contract for military communications to the Army Research, Development and Engineering Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

Today's warfighters require the military radio communications capability to dismount from their vehicle while maintaining secure Army communications over the Army electronics vehicle intercom system and the vehicle's combat net radio.

Current intercoms require soldiers to remain tethered to the vehicle by a cable, which can cause lost communications when soldiers step out of their vehicles. Thales is using technology from its AN/PRC-148 JTRS Enhanced Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio, or JEM, to provide a Type 1 secure wireless connection between the dismounted soldier and their vehicle intercom system (VIS), extending the reach of the VIS.

Thales's Mounted Soldier Cordless Communication System enables warfighters to move freely inside and outside the vehicle without losing communications.

The core of the Thales system is the AN/PRC-148, covering the 30-512 MHz frequency range. The radio's Software Communications Architecture (SCA)-compliant platform hosts today's waveforms, including SATCOM IW, and enables the integration of waveforms and advanced capabilities, such as increased data rates, tactical networking, and situational awareness. The AN/PRC-148 radios, including those fielded, are able to add technology and most has via simple software upgrades, thereby serving warfighters far into the future.

For more information contact Thales Communications online at www.thalescomminc.com.