USMC Orders 11,000 Vehicular Units from Thales

• These contracts were awarded under the Consolidated, Interim, Single-Channel Handheld Radio (CISCHR) contract

(Clarksburg, Md., January 19, 2010) -- Thales Communications, Inc., a pioneer and global leader in the development, manufacture, and support of multiband, software-defined radio (SDR) equipment, announces the award of two contracts by the Joint Program Executive Office Joint Tactical Radio System (JPEO JTRS) to provide Cradle Vehicle Adapters (CVAs) for the U.S. Marine Corps. Under these contracts, Thales will deliver 11,000 50-Watt CVAs to the Marine Corps for use with previously-purchased Thales AN/PRC-148 JTRS-approved radios. These contracts were awarded under the Consolidated, Interim, Single-Channel Handheld Radio (CISCHR) contract.

The 50-Watt CVA combines the functionality of Thales' battle-proven AN/PRC-148 JEM (JTRS Enhanced MBITR) handheld radio set with a high-powered vehicle amplifier, providing 50 Watts of RF power output from 30 to 88 MHz and 20 Watts of RF power output from 88 to 512 MHz. A compact, rugged unit with a low-profile form factor and total weight of 16 pounds, the CVA can be easily integrated into space constrained land, air, and sea-based platforms. The CVA has the unique capability of remoting the radio separate from the amplifier to reduce the operational profile and, like the company's other vehicle mount units, allows cable-free, two-second radio dismount, providing users with a fully-charged and immediately-operational handheld radio upon dismount.


The CVA uses the AN/PRC-148 JEM as its core component, providing higher RF power output for all of the AN/PRC-148 radio capabilities with a common Human Machine Interface (HMI). The AN/PRC-148 JEM radio hosts all of today's key waveforms, including ANDVT, HAVEQUICK I/II, SINCGARS, MELP, 56 kbps High Throughput Waveform, Project 25, and SATCOM IW.

"The CVA, developed specifically for space-constrained installations, offers an alternative to legacy vehicular installations with the benefits of the multiband, multi-mode capability and a future growth path of the AN/PRC-148 JEM," said Andrew Bostock, Director of Tactical Ground Communications Programs at Thales Communications.

Source : Thales Group (Paris: HO.PA)