US Navy orders Gerneral Dynamics’ radios for ships and submarines

The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Mission Systems a contract modification to build and deliver more than 30 new AN/USC-61(C) Digital Modular Radios (DMR), along with related materials and equipment for new Navy surface vessels and submarines.

According to GD, the software-defined radios are a mission critical communications hub for Navy vessels and submarines. The contract modification exercises the sixth option to a contract awarded to General Dynamics in 2010. A majority of the work will be done at General Dynamics’ Scottsdale, Arizona, location.

“The new radios, like the 550 DMRs already delivered to the Navy, are updated and upgraded using software, leaving the basic hardware in place, cost-effectively increasing radio functionality and versatility year after year,” said Paul Parent, vice president of Radio Products for General Dynamics Mission Systems.

DMR radios allow sailors and commanders to talk and share data with a wide spectrum of military radios. Recently added to DMR radios, the MUOS waveform is the digital dial-tone needed to connect with the new Navy-lead Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite communications network.

The Navy’s DMR four-channel radio was the first software-defined radio delivered to the U.S. military. As one of the military’s most versatile tactical radios, one four-channel DMR can simultaneously support communications using Ultra-High Frequency satellite networks, single-channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS) Line of Sight and other tactical, High Frequency radios, GD explained.

The company also pointed out to the fact that the equipment is NSA certified to carry classified information at the Type 1 – Top Secret level and below.