Harris to supply Marines with battle-tested radios

Harris Corp. will supply the Marine Corps with radios worth $118 million under a new contract that could be worth as much as $350 million.

Under the contract, the Marine Corps will almost double the number of its widely deployed and battle-tested Falcon II AN/PRC-117(F) multiband radios that provide secure voice and data communications in a single, rugged package.

The radio covers the full 30-512 MHz frequency band using military standard voice and data transmissions and works with a wide range of ground-based and airborne equipment. The radio features advanced tactical satellite voice and data capabilities required to communicate on the digital battlefield.

As part of the indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract, Harris will also provide three dedicated technicians who will be embedded with Marine maintenance companies.

The Marine Corps is transitioning from its single-band radios to multiband, multimission radios that are smaller and lighter, have extended frequency range and are interoperable with radios used by other U.S. forces.

Harris, of Melbourne, Fla., ranks No. 13 on Washington Technology's 2008 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.