Army receives first mobile radios for FCS

The first two ground mobile radio models that are part of the military’s next-generation tactical radio network have been delivered to the Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) program by prime contractor Boeing Co.

The engineering development models of the Joint Tactical Radio System GMRs were delivered to Army officials for use with FCS ground vehicles in late February, company officials announced March 19.

The FCS program will use the two models for software development, integration and testing, the officials said. The prototypes will provide mobile networking capability for a limited user test planned this summer by the FCS program at Fort Bliss, Texas.

When the ground mobile radios are eventually fielded, they will provide soldiers with the ability to communicate and share information over a secure, interoperable tactical network, Army officials said in the Boeing announcement.

Company officials said they plan to ship additional engineering models to the JTRS Joint Program Executive Office over the next six months for systems integration testing by the military.