Harris wins $90 million JTRS contract

Harris Corp. has won a contract worth up to $90 million to provide encryption subsystems for the Defense Department's Joint Tactical Radio System.

Harris Corp., Melbourne, Fla., has won a contract worth up to $90 million to provide encryption subsystems for the Defense Department's Joint Tactical Radio System, the company announced this week.

Boeing Co., Chicago, the lead integrator for the development phase of JTRS, will use Harris' Sierra II encryption modules for the first cluster of radios it produces. In June 2002, Boeing won the $2 billion initial system development and demonstration contract for JTRS.

The first version of Sierra, which encrypts voice and data transmissions, was certified by National Security Agency for secure communications.

The JTRS is a family of software reprogrammable radios, based on an open communications architecture that will provide U.S. commanders and warfighters with interoperable radios with voice and data communications capabilities.

Cluster 1 is the first procurement of a number of clusters for JTRS and consists of Army, Air Force Tactical Air Control Party and Marine Corps ground radios, as well as Army rotary wing aircraft radios.

Harris' RF communications division will provide the modules and support.