Thales Receives GD LRIP Contract for Rifleman Radio

Thales Communications has received a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract from General Dynamics (GD) C4 Systems for the AN/PRC-154 Rifleman radio.

The award follows an approval received by the US Army for the procurement of up to 6,250 Rifleman radios as part of the joint tactical radio system handheld, manpack, and small form fit (JTRS HMS) programme.

The Rifleman radio, to be manufactured by Thales and GD, is a lightweight, networking, body-worn radio designed to extend the tactical communication network to any warfighter.

The radio uses the soldier radio waveform to transmit voice and data simultaneously, track and locate individual soldiers, and provide situational awareness capability to dismounted warfighters on the battlefield.

The system has even undergone a series of formal tests, including various operational network integration exercises.