SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., 10 March 2007. General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, has delivered pre-engineering development models and two-channel manpack technology demonstrators of the joint tactical radio system (JTRS) handheld, manpack, and small form fit (HMS) radio sets to the U.S. Government for evaluation.
During a demonstration at the Pentagon, the JTRS board of directors -- chaired by Kenneth J. Krieg, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics -- witnessed four radios communicating voice, data, and video signals while simultaneously talking with a variety of legacy military radios.
"The JTRS HMS deliveries have demonstrated to senior DOD leadership that JTRS programs can be successful when the Requirements and Acquisition communities work together to deliver transformational capability under an incremental approach," says LTC Richard Housewright, program manager for JTRS HMS. "The compromises achieved allowed the JTRS HMS team to deliver the long sought-after networking capability, the Holy Grail needed for achieving Joint Vision 2020, on schedule and at cost."
The radio sets delivered to the government and demonstrated at the Pentagon included manpack technology demonstrator and small form factor models, all of which included an early version of the soldier radio waveform, known as "SLICE 1.04p" which is the newest JTRS HMS networking waveform.
"By combining innovative technologies and commercial off-the-shelf equipment, JTRS HMS radios are smaller, lighter, and more power-efficient, while still meeting precise U.S. Government standards for networking, security, and survivability," Chris Brady, vice president of Assured Communication Systems for General Dynamics C4 Systems, notes.
General Dynamics was selected as the prime contractor by the Army for the JTRS HMS (formerly Cluster 5) program in July 2004. The JTRS HMS team includes BAE SYSTEMS (Wayne, N.J.), Rockwell Collins (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), and Thales Communications (Clarksburg, Md.).
