Marines to buy additional manpack radios

Harris Corp. has received a $311.4 million increase to an existing indefinite-delivery, indefinite quantity contract to provide the Marines with high-frequency manpack radios (HRMR).

The increase raises the contract ceiling from $586.5 million to $897.9 million, the Defense Department announced Dec. 22. The ceiling increase becomes effective after the current ordering period, which ends Feb. 10, 2010.

The HFMR AN/PRC-150 offers secure voice and data communications, networking and long-lasting battery life. The AN/PRC-150 is used by reconnaissance teams, forward air controllers and operational headquarters at the division, wing and logistics group levels, according to the Marine Corps.

Harris is scheduled to begin delivering the radios under the initial ordering period this month, DOD said. Harris’ RF Communications Division, of Rochester, N.Y., will provide the radios and support systems. The Marine Corps Systems Command is the contracting activity.

Harris, of Melbourne, Fla., announced last month that it had won a $38 million contract to assist the U.S. Southern Command with network and computer systems security.