Harris Corporation and National Security Agency Announce Certification of First Tactical Radio with Type-1 Suite B Information S
September 03 2009 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
New Harris RF-310M-HH Radio Simplifies Interoperable Tactical
Communications Between Coalition Forces to SECRET Levels of
Information Security ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sept. 3
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), an
international communications and information technology company,
today announced it has received certification from the National
Security Agency (NSA) for the Harris RF-310M-HH, the world's first
tactical radio to utilize new encryption technology designed to
simplify the enabling of communications interoperability within
multinational coalitions. Harris and NSA collaborated on the new
technology, which is based on a set of commercial algorithms and
keying techniques defined as "Suite B." (Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090903/FL70313) The Harris
RF-310M-HH is a multiband, multi-mission, software-defined Suite B
radio certified to transmit voice and data up to the U.S. SECRET
level. The objective of the Harris/NSA joint project is to make it
easier for U.S. forces and coalition partners to communicate on the
battlefield, resulting in improved coordination, easier mission
planning and reduced instances of friendly fire. These radios will
be commercially available to coalition partners with limited
restrictions and will enable secure communications with U.S. troops
using other equipment such as the JTRS-approved Falcon III
AN/PRC-152(C) handheld and AN/PRC-117G manpack radios. The
RF-310M-HH has also been submitted to NATO's Military Committee
Communications and Information Systems Security and Evaluation
Agency for NATO SECRET traffic certification. "Through our work
with the NSA in developing the RF-310M-HH radio, we are jointly
addressing an emerging need for enabling tactical communications
between coalition partners," said Dana Mehnert, Group President,
Harris RF Communications. "This radio delivers the advantages of
encrypted waveform interoperability, protecting voice and data to
SECRET levels of information security without the handling rules
and regulations governing controlled cryptographic items (CCI).
This capability simplifies security, logistics and operational
planning." The RF-310M-HH radio offers an easy-to-use,
cost-effective way of transforming the ad-hoc nature of
communications among coalition partners in conflicts such as the
war in Afghanistan. This new radio will enable nations in the
International Security Assistance Force to modernize and securely
interoperate throughout the coalition. The RF-310M-HH radio,
covering the 30 MHz to 512 MHz frequency range, leverages the
expertise of Harris Corporation as the leading provider of
software-defined tactical radios around the world. The RF-310M-HH
is interoperable with the JTRS-approved AN/PRC-152(C) handheld and
AN/PRC-117G manpack radios. There are more than 80,000
AN/PRC-152(C) radios deployed around the world. The RF-310M-HH
radio is based on the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and uses
the Sierra 2B Core Software, recently certified by the NSA. The
radio also includes the Type-3 APCO P25 waveform, enabling
interoperability with public safety first responders. Because the
RF-310M-HH is a software-defined radio built and compliant with the
Software Communications Architecture (SCA), the radio is positioned
to host other current and future waveforms. Harris RF
Communications is the leading global supplier of secure radio
communications and embedded high-grade encryption solutions for
military, government and commercial organizations. The company's
Falcon family of software-defined tactical radio systems
encompasses manpack, handheld and vehicular applications. Falcon
III is the next-generation of radios supporting the U.S. military's
Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) requirements as well as
network-centric operations worldwide. Harris RF Communications is
also a leading supplier of assured communications systems and
equipment for public safety, utility and transportation markets,
with products ranging from the most advanced IP voice and data
networks to portable and mobile single- and multiband radios. About
Harris Corporation Harris is an international communications and
information technology company serving government and commercial
markets in more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne,
Florida, the company has approximately $5 billion of annual revenue
and more than 15,000 employees -- including nearly 7,000 engineers
and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class
assured communications products, systems, and services. Additional
information about Harris Corporation is available at
http://www.harris.com/.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090903/FL70313
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Harris Corporation CONTACT:
Kevin Aman, RF Communications, +1-585-241-8186, , Jim Burke,
Corporate Headquarters, +1-321-727-9131, Web Site:
http://www.harris.com/
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