Army contracts for new radios

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MELBOURNE, Fla., April 30 (UPI) -- The Harris Corp. reports it is upgrading air-to-ground radios used at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico as part of a U.S. Army contract.

Under the first delivery order of a five-year, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity award, Harris and its Norwegian partner Jotron will provide UHF and VHF digital radios for use in air traffic control communications at the range.

Jotron's 7000 series digital radios meet U.S. and international standards. The initial units will be produced in Norway by Jotron but later units may be produced at a Harris facility in Florida.

The companies also worked together in 2010 for a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration contract.

"The combination of Jotron's high-performance A/G radio technology and Harris' communications and manufacturing expertise provides a powerful advantage to modernizing critical communications at the White Sands Missile Range at a competitive price," said Sheldon Fox, group president, Harris Government Communications Systems.

Jotron Chairman Merete Berdal said, "We are combining the best of our respective technology and manufacturing expertise to address the specific COTS radio needs of the Army with our 7000 Series A/G, multi-mode digital radios."

The contact carries a value of $5 million.