The Joint Tactical Networking Center (JTNC) yesterday said the U.S. Army’s Project Management Office Tactical Radios (PM TR) received Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Certification for the Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Fit (HMS) AN/PRC-154 Rifleman Radio operating Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) software version 1.0C. 

General Dynamics [GD] and Thales Communications each produce the Rifleman radio.

AN/PRC-154 Rifleman Radio
Photo: General Dynamics 

A JTRS Certified product means the HMS AN/PRC-154 device complies with JTRS technical assessment criteria and serves as proof the system is compatible with the Department of Defense (DoD) network objectives.

JTRS Certification is part of an evolving process to ensure end-to-end joint service interoperability and security. The rigorous process verifies and validates that software-defined radios operating JTRS Waveforms have undergone technical assessments to mitigate development and government procurement risks 

The JTRS Certification indicates a device’s readiness to operate in a DoD or Service network architecture.

“The JTRS Certification process supports the DoD and the Services in building tactical networks that are interoperable and secure using radios running JTRS waveforms,” said Mark Compton, JTNC director and assistant Program Executive Office for the Army’s Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T). “It is open to all vendors porting these waveforms onto their products, thus supporting the Department’s Better Buying Power focus on promoting effective competition and incentivizing innovation.”

Available in mounted and dismounted configurations, the HMS AN/PRC-154 Rifleman Radio provides networking connectivity to the frontline warfighter in a low-cost, lightweight, and ruggedized device that minimizes the soldier’s combat load while increasing functionality. The Rifleman Radio connects every warfighter to the combat network, emphasizing safety and enabling enhanced situational awareness and better decisions at the lowest echelons.

“The successful certification of tactical radios provides great future benefits to the government and our industry partners,” said Col. William Wygal, project manager Tactical Radios.  “It is a clear indicator that industry and government can work together in support of Army requirements.  I commend our industry partners on their efforts to date and encourage them to continue these efforts in the future.”