Thales Communications Inc. said it received a new Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract for secure radios to support the Army’s Nett Warrior Program.

The award is for 2,052 Nett Warrior radios and associated ancillaries. Half of the radios will be produced by General Dynamics [GD] C4 Systems, and half will be produced by Thales Communications at its Clarksburg, Md., headquarters facilities. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of calendar year 2013.

The radio was jointly developed by Thales and General Dynamics C4S under the Handheld, Manpack, and Small Form Fit (HMS) program, where General Dynamics is the prime contractor.

This Nett Warrior Radio is capable of providing soldiers with access to the government’s classified networks at the Secret or Sensitive But Unclassified level. 

The lightweight radio is a body worn unit that transmits voice and data simultaneously utilizing the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW). The radio allows self-forming, ad hoc, voice and data networks and enables any leader at the tactical level to track individual soldier position location information.

“The Nett Warrior Radio provides soldiers with capabilities not previously available in a body worn radio,” said Michael Sheehan, president and CEO of Thales Communications Inc. “It gives dismounted soldiers access to mission-critical, classified information as well as a much-needed situational awareness capability that can save lives.”