Navy readies contract to Rockwell Collins for high-power transceivers

U.S. Navy radio communications experts are making plans to up- grade existing radios with 721S fixed-site VHF-UHF radio transceivers from Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Officials of the Naval Sea Systems Command Corona Division in Corona, Calif., have announced their intention to buy commercial 721S radios from Rockwell Collins to replace existing UHF/VHF radios in the field that are obsolete and cannot be upgraded to remain relevant with current and future technologies. The 721S high-power AM/FM VHF-UHF radio transceiver provides long-range communications that operators can optimize for RF-congested operational conditions. These radios have an optional full-color display and software-definable touchscreen. The removable radio controller unit provides radio control, status, and voice audio and keying connections. The 721S radio transceiver is configurable to support several voice and data operating modes in AM and FM over frequencies from 30 to 512 MHz; features Ethernet-based command and control, and industry-standard severe cosite operation; and operates in fixed-frequency or frequency-hopping modes. One radio control unit can manage several transceivers.