Harris Corp. gains $23 million U.S. Department of Defense order for Falcon III handheld tactical radios compatible with Suite B encryption standard

MELBOURNE, Fla., 24 June 2011. Harris Corp. (NYSE:HRS), an international communications and information technology company, won a $23 million order to supply the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) with additional Falcon III multiband, multi-mission, software-defined radios compatible with Suite B encryption. The DoD is acquiring RF-310M-HH radios to provide simplified communications interoperability and information security handling in a variety of ground-based applications, according to a spokeswoman.

The RF-310M-HH, the first tactical radio certified by the National Security Agency (NSA) as compatible with Type-1, Suite B encryption, provides U.S. Secret and below interoperability with tactical radios, such as the Falcon III AN/PRC-152(C) handheld and AN/PRC-117G manpack radios.

"With its programmable encryption technology, Software Communications Architecture (SCA) and coverage of the 30-512 MHz frequency range, the RF-310M-HH addresses interoperability challenges presented in coalition and inter-agency operations," says Brendan O'Connell, president, Department of Defense business, Harris RF Communications. "The RF-310M is based upon the same platform as the NSA-certified Type-1 AN/PRC-152(C). This will allow for commonality in logistics and reduced administrative and training costs."

The RF-310M hosts the APCO P25 waveform, providing interoperability with radios used by police and other emergency-response organizations. Suite B uses the commercial Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). The RF-310M-HH is considered a Non-Controlled Cryptographic Item—a designation that enables the radio to be provided to a wider range of U.S. personnel and coalition partners.