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Thales to co-produce Rifleman Radios

CLARKSBURG, Md., Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Thales Communications will produce AN/PRC-154 Rifleman Radios for the U.S. Army through a contract from General Dynamics C4 Systems.

The AN/PRC-154 Rifleman Radio was developed as part of the Joint Tactical Radio System Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Fit program with General Dynamics. It is a lightweight, networking, body-worn radio designed to extend the tactical network to the dismounted individual soldier.

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The JTRS HMS program received a Milestone C decision in June from the U.S. Department of Defense, which authorized the Army to procure up to 6,250 Rifleman Radios.

Following that decision, General Dynamics, the prime contractor, received a contract for the radios, which will be manufactured by both companies under a low-rate production award.

A core component of the Army's soldier modernization program, the Rifleman Radio transmits voice and data simultaneously utilizing the Soldier Radio Waveform. The radio is designed to supply secure (Type 2) inter-squad communications to any warfighter on the tactical edge of the battlefield.

It creates self-forming, ad hoc, voice and data networks in any battlefield scenario and enables team leaders to track individual soldier position location information, giving dismounted soldiers a much-needed situational awareness capability on the battlefield.

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"The Rifleman Radio represents the very latest technology, benefiting from close collaboration with users and rigorous government testing," said Michael Sheehan, president and chief executive officer of Thales Communications, Inc.

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