Army Advances Procurement Strategy for Software-Defined Radios

Col. Garth Winterle, project manager for tactical radios at program executive office for command, control and communications-tactical, has said the U.S. Army has been advancing an acquisition strategy for software-defined radios, National Defense reported Friday.

“Software defined radios allow for less complicated waveform upgrades and do not require costly hardware changes as we incorporate electronic warfare hardening and cyber protection,” Winterle said.

The report noted that the service has been pursuing software-defined radio programs –  the Leader system through PEO C3T’s handheld, manpack and small form fit radio program and the Generation II Manpack initiative.

The Army selected Harris and Thales in September to deliver Leader software-defined radios. Five months prior to that, Harris and Collins Aerospace secured contracts from the service for low-rate initial production of Generation II Manpack radios.

The Leader radio has the National Security Agency’s Type 1 encryption certification and works to provide two-channel data and voice communications through multiple platforms.

Two-channel Generation II Manpacks radios feature battery life and hardware enhancements and deliver two-channel communications services through various Army and joint service waveforms, the report noted.