US Army orders high-frequency, tactical radio antennas from Harris

The US Army has placed orders with Harris Corporation (HRS) to deliver high-frequency (HF) tactical radio antennas.

Under the five-year, $12m IDIQ contract, Harris will provide RF-3134 HF full-loop antennas, which can be used for fixed installations or on vehicles to enable mobile HF communications.

The lightweight and compact RF-3134 is easy to install and uninstall, and interfaces with the Harris Falcon II AN/PRC-150 series of HF radios.

Harris Communication Systems president Chris Young said: "The HF full-loop antenna provides a combination of high bandwidth and signal efficiency that makes it ideal for on-the-move applications.

"Harris continues to provide advanced radios and related systems to meet the real-time communications needs of our nation’s warfighters."

The US Army is likely to use Harris RF-3134 HF full-loop antenna systems as part of the high-mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS), which is a multiple launch rocket system widely used during operations in Iraq.

The full-loop antennas will enable field personnel to deliver targeting commands to the missiles through long-distance HF voice and data radio links.

They can be easily installed on the HIMARS platform, providing improved, long-distance communication between HIMARS and its supporting units when compared with traditional line-of-sight communications.

The RF-3134 are capable of operating under the same military environmental conditions as the rest of the Falcon II family.

The antenna includes full-loop antenna elements and tower, as well as a protective boot, coupler/PA cable, and a high-voltage cable installation kit.