U.S. Army asking Congress for $3 billion for tactical network radios for secure battlefield communications

Feb. 21, 2020
The radios arguably are the most visible piece in a revamp of the Army's battlefield network, expected to cost $9.6 billion over the next five years.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army wants to spend more than $3 billion to buy new manpack and handheld radios over the next four years, according to budget documents released Feb. 10. C4ISRnet reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

21 Feb. 2020 -- That’s about $450 million more than Army officials projected they would spend on the radios during the same time period in budget documents last year.

The radios are a key element to what the service calls the integrated tactical network, the concept behind the Army’s modernized battlefield network which will incrementally add capabilities units every two years beginning in 2021.

Army battlefield communications experts will invest in the 2-channel Leader radio, the Manpack radio and the Rifleman radio. L3Harris and Thales are the primary contractors for the Leader and Rifleman radios while Collins Aerospace and L3Harris are the primary contractors for the Manpack radios.

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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

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