AN/PRC-163
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| AN/PRC-163 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Handheld dual channel tactical radio |
| Service History | |
| In service | 2018 - ongoing |
| Used by | US Army, US Marine Corps, US Navy, |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | L3Harris |
| Production years | 2018 - ongoing |
| Specifications | |
| Frequency range | VHF, UHF (see specifications) |
| Transmit power | LOS: up to 5 watts
SATCOM: up to 10 watts |
| Modes | analog voice, digital voice and data |
| Encryption | NSA Type 1 (up to Secret) |
The AN/PRC-163 Multi-channel Handheld Radio, is a dual-channel tactical handheld radio manufactured by L3Harris Technologies, Inc. for the U.S. military, referred to by the U.S. Army as the Leader Radio.[1] It is capable modes such as VHF/UHF Line-of-Sight (VULOS), SINCGARS, Soldier Radio Waveform, Tactical Scalable MANET, P25 as well as the Mobile User Objective System satellite communication mode. The dual channel capability allows a soldier to simultaneously communicate on two separate radio networks. It has received NSA certification for the transmission of Top Secret information with an appropriate encryption key.[2] The PRC-163 is one of the Handheld, Manpack & Small Form Fit (HMS) components[3] of the Integrated Tactical Network family of radios,[1] the U.S. Army's modernization strategy for tactical radios. It is a member of L3Harris' Falcon IV family of tactical radios, and the successor to the Falcon III-family AN/PRC-152 Multiband Handheld Radio.
In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/PRC-163" designation represents the 163rd design of an Army-Navy electronic device for portable two-way communications radio. The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense electronic systems.
The PRC-163 is in use by the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy,[4] and Marine Corps, Canadian Army[5] as well as the British Army.[6] The U.S. Army is set to purchase over 100,000 PRC-163 radios.[1][when?]
