The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a contract to Harris to supply additional Falcon III AN/PRC-117G multiband manpack radio systems to support future mission-critical requirements.

The additional $9.4m order for the radio systems will support emerging network-enabled applications in situational awareness, intelligence and analysis and real-time battlefield collaboration.

The Falcon III AN/PRC-117G radio is the first US joint tactical radio system (JTRS) software communications architecture-certified and NSA type-1 certified wideband manpack radio system that provides the highest level of information assurance to tactical units.

The radio system will provide USAF with unprecedented situational awareness through wideband networking of the battlefield and delivering critical real-time information to warfighters on the move.

The system and other Falcon III radios are currently in use with the US Department of Defense, federal agencies and key allies such as the UK, Canada, Germany, Australia and other Nato countries.