Army places production orders for new tactical radios

The Army has placed its first full-rate production orders for Manpack and Leader tactical radios, with a total value of $345 million across two vendors for each radio, the service announced in a Sept. 24 press release.

“Full-rate production of these radios across the force will provide our warfighters with the most advanced radio network capabilities available for enhanced situational awareness, which is critical for mission success,” Col. Garth Winterle, project manager for tactical radios, said in the press release.

Most of the funding, $226 million, will go to the satellite-connected Manpack radio program. L3Harris will supply 2,320 radios, and Collins Aerospace will supply 1,547.

The rest of the money, $119 million, will buy handheld Leader radios. L3Harris will supply 2,498 radios, and Thales will supply 1,096.

Radios will go to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, a Stryker brigade combat team that is permanently stationed in Europe, and “multiple” infantry brigades in the Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division, according to the Army press release.

L3Harris will receive more than $200 million for the radios from this round of orders, according to a Sept. 27 press release from the company.