The British Army has tapped L3Harris to produce and deliver an advanced communication system for 90 million pounds ($109 million).
The technology firm will provide more than 1,300 Multi-Mode Radios (MMR) to the army, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Air Force.
According to the UK defense ministry, the radios will increase the interoperability between the British military and its allies.
It will also provide ground-to-ground and ground-to-air communications support to dismounted soldiers.
“It’s vital we equip our armed forces personnel with modern capabilities to maintain their operational effectiveness on an ever-changing battlefield,” British defense procurement minister Alex Chalk said.
“This contract boosts our interoperability with allies and is yet another example of British companies and employees supporting British defense.”
The first batch of MMRs is expected to be delivered by the end of the year, with the rest arriving in 2023.
‘World-Leading Capability’
L3Harris’ MMR is a highly-capable radio with powerful batteries to support long-range missions.
It can be mounted on vehicles or operated by infantry soldiers.
The radio will replace legacy communication systems used by the British military.
“We are very pleased to announce the arrival of the next generation of the multi-mode radio capability,” Colonel Elizabeth Mortimore stated. “It will offer significant enhancement to the war fighter across all three services by delivering world-leading command and communications capability to the front line.”
The multimillion-dollar agreement is expected to create more job opportunities in the UK, supporting defense employment in the country.
Once delivered, the MMRs could reportedly undergo more technical upgrades, enabling them to meet more demanding mission requirements.
