Production contract for Nett Warrior radio

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CLARKSBURG, Md., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- A new low-rate production contract for secure radios has been given to Thales Communications Inc. for the U.S. Army's Nett Warrior program.

The contract is for 2,500 radios and accessories. The value of the contract wasn't disclosed but Thales Communications said delivery of the units is to begin in the first quarter of this year.

Half the order will be produced by Thales and half will be produced by General Dynamics C4 Systems, which developed the Nett Warrior radio with Thales.

"The Nett Warrior Radio provides soldiers with capabilities not previously available in a body worn radio," said Michael Sheehan, president and chief executive officer of Thales Communications.

"It gives dismounted soldiers access to mission-critical, classified information as well as a much-needed situational awareness capability that can save lives."

The radio, which can give troops access to the government's classified networks at the Secret or Sensitive level, is a body device that transmits voice and data simultaneously by using the Soldier Radio Waveform. It allows ad hoc voice and data networks and also allows for the tracking of the location of a soldier using it by any leader at the tactical level.