More Digital Modular Radios from General Dynamics ordered by U.S. Navy
NewsAugust 10, 2015
FAIRFAX, Va. The U.S. Navy officials ordered more 56 AN/USC-61(C) Digital Modular Radios (DMRs) and related equipment from General Dynamics as part of contract won back 2010 to provide the radios for use on submarines, surface ships, and locations on shore. These radios, which will go onboard Navy destroyers and submarines currently under construction, will be able to use the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) waveform, which is the digital dial tone necessary for making voice calls to the U.S. Department of Defense's narrowband MUOS satellite communications system.
General Dynamics officials released a software upgrade for existing DMRs earlier this year that transforms the radio's four channels into eight virtual channels and is available when sailors are using high frequency (HF) communication frequencies. The software upgrade enables the Navy to add capacity while keeping the existing onboard DMR, saving physical radio replacement cost or the need to change the configuration in space-constrained radio rooms.
The software-defined DMRs communicate with ultra-high frequency SATCOM, single-channel ground and airborne radio systems (SINCGARS), line of sight, and high frequency radios.
This order, valued at over $29 million, exercises option five on the original contract.
