General Dynamics To Supply Software Upgraded Digital Modular Radios To US Navy

General Dynamics has won a $29 million contract to supply 56 Digital Modular Radios (DMRs) and related equipment to the US Navy.

The newly built AN/USC-61(C) DMR radios will be capable of using the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) waveform, the digital dial tone needed to make voice calls to the US DoD's next generation, narrowband MUOS satellite communications system, the company said in a statement Monday.

The four-channel radios form the foundation of the Navy's network communications aboard submarines, surface ships and on-shore locations. This order is part of the exercises option five on a contract awarded to General Dynamics in 2010.

"MUOS has a capability to provide smartphone-like connectivity among military personnel working in some of the toughest, most remote environments," Mike DiBiase, vice president and general manager of C4IRS Technologies for General Dynamics Mission Systems said.

Earlier this year, General Dynamics announced a software upgrade for existing DMRs that turns the radio's four channels into eight virtual channels. This expanded communications capacity is available when sailors are using high frequency (HF) communication frequencies. As a software upgrade, the added capacity keeps the existing onboard DMR, saving the Navy the cost of replacing the physical radio or changing the configuration in space-constrained radio rooms.

The software-defined DMRs are military approved radios to communicate with Ultra-High Frequency SATCOM, Single-Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS), Line of Sight and High Frequency radios on Navy vessels and land locations.