Joint Tactical Radio System

Army Communicator, Spring, 2004

On Feb. 26, 2004, the Joint Tactical Radio System Joint Program Office sponsored an Industry Day event. The purpose of which was to outline the JTRS JPO's goals for the software-defined radio initiative and to offer an opportunity for potential vendors to pose questions and communicate their concerns. The event successfully sparked an exchange of ideas and information to fully explore the role of industry within the program from a lifecycle perspective that will span decades of evolutionary JTRS development. The JTRS industry day briefing included presentations by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Army and the JTRS JPO. The meetings involved discussion on the JTRS program and its architecture and networking issues.

The Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications Tactical expects to award the JTRS Cluster 5 contract by 3rd Quarter Fiscal Year 2004. The Cluster 5 program, which will consist of man pack, hand held and small-embedded form factor variants, is expected to produce the first JTRS software-defined radios specifically designed with the soldier as a system concept in mind. ITT Industries, Fort Wayne, Ind., and General Dynamics Inc., Falls Church, Va., submitted proposals for the JTRS Cluster 5 contract. ITT's team includes Harris Corp., Melbourne, Fla., and Boeing Co., Chicago, Ill. General Dynamics team members are BAE Systems, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Thales Group, Alexandria, Va.