Harris Wins $18 Million Contract from Marconi

Marconi Communications (Genoa, Italy) awarded an $18.0 million contract to Rochester, NY-based Harris Corp. to supply advanced radio communications systems for the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense (MOD).

Harris will supply all of the tactical high frequency/very high frequency (HF/VHF) radio systems in the Bulgarian MOD's $58 million Field Integrated Communication Information System (FICIS) project, for which Marconi is the prime contractor.

Harris is providing HF and VHF radio systems and new combat net radio access software that supports both encrypted digital voice and data and adheres to industry Internet protocols for encrypted data connectivity. Both the HF and VHF systems belong to Harris' Falcon II family of tactical radio products that are supplied to a number of NATO and Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries.

A distinguishing feature of the Harris contract centers on the company's advanced combat net radio access software that essentially allows telephone access via a Falcon II radio keypad. Radio operators can enter a standard telephone number on the radio and pick up the handset for a connection via a Marconi telecommunications switch. This programmable software extends the capabilities of traditional tactical radio equipment to form a flexible global networking system.