A U.S. Navy Electronics Technician holding an AN/PRC-163.

The AN/PRC-163 Multi-channel Handheld Radio, is a dual-channel tactical handheld radio manufactured by L3Harris Technologies, Inc. for the U.S. military, referred to by the U.S. Army as the Leader Radio.[1] It is capable modes such as VHF/UHF Line-of-Sight (VULOS), SINCGARS, Soldier Radio Waveform, Tactical Scalable MANET, P25 as well as the Mobile User Objective System satellite communication mode. The dual channel capability allows a soldier to simultaneously communicate on two separate radio networks. It has received NSA certification for the transmission of Top Secret information with an appropriate encryption key.[2] The PRC-163 is one of the Handheld, Manpack & Small Form Fit (HMS) components[3] of the Integrated Tactical Network family of radios,[1] the U.S. Army's modernization strategy for tactical radios. It is a member of L3Harris' Falcon IV family of tactical radios, and the successor to the Falcon III-family AN/PRC-152 Multiband Handheld Radio.

The PRC-163 is in use by the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy[4] and the British Army.[5] The U.S. Army is set to purchase over 100,000 PRC-163 radios.[1]

Specifications

Source:[6]

General

Frequency Range:

  • R/T (Receiver/Transmitter) 1: VHF low: 30-88 MHz, VHF high: 118-174 MHz UHF: 225-512 MHz SATCOM: 300-320, MHz UL / 360-380 MHz DL UHF SATCOM: 291-318.3 MHz UL / 243-270 MHz DL
  • R/T 2: UHF: 225-450 MHz, L/S-band: 1300-2600 MHz

Modes:

  • Voice: Narrowband analog/PCM AM/FM, CVSD ASK/FSK cipher text, Wideband 2400 bps MELPe, LPC/2400-MELP – SATCOM (IW)
  • Data: Narrowband analog/PCM AM/FM, CVSD ASK/FSK cipher text, Wideband up to 16 Mbps

Power Output: 250 mW to 5 W, 10 W SATCOM modes, 3.2 W L/S-band

Encryption: Denali®-based Type 1 Suite A/B (Trust Anchor capable), AES-256

Net Presets: 99 (standard); unlimited with multiple mission files

GPS: Built-in module—SAASM L1/L2 or Commercial L1

Programming: Front Panel Programmable (FPP), Windows® PC-based Communications Planning Application (CPA) via USB connection.

Waveforms

Channel 1 Standard Waveforms: VHF/UHF LOS, ANW2®C, SINCGARS, P25 (Conventional)

Channel 1 Optional Waveforms: SATURN, HPW, IW Phase 1/2, HAVEQUICK I/II, P25T Trunking (Low Band), SCM and e-BFT (DoD only)

Channel 2 Standard Waveforms: ANW2®C, UHF LOS, UHF SATCOM

Channel 2 Optional Waveforms: TSM-X™, L-TAC®, Wraith™

Interfaces

Data: USB 2.0, IP over USB, Ethernet

Audio: 19-pin ADF, 2-channel audio + KDU, USB 2.0, fill

Antenna Ports: 50-ohm TNC

Key Fill: DS-101 (via AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader)

External Mission Module: Power, data, control/status

Physical

Dimensions: 6 H x 3 W x 2 D in (15.24 x 7.62 x 5.08 cm)

Weight: (with battery) 2.75 lbs (1.25 kg)

Color/Finish: CARC Green

Environmental

Temperature Operating: -22°F to 140°F (-30°C to +55°C)

Storage: -40°F to 185°F (-40°C to +85°C)

Immersion: 20 meters

References

  1. 1 2 3 Chakraborty, Aninda (2020-12-10). "US Army orders L3Harris Falcon IV AN/PRC-163 handheld radios". Army Technology. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  2. ↑ lroy (2018-11-08). "Harris AN/PRC-163 handheld radio attains NSA Type-1 certification". Army Technology. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  3. ↑ "L3Harris Receives Radio Production Orders Worth $235 Million Under US Army's HMS Contract | L3Harris® Fast. Forward". www.l3harris.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  4. ↑ "US Navy, Air Force Award L3Harris Technologies Order for Two-Channel Handheld Tactical Radios Enabling Advanced Battle Management System | L3Harris® Fast. Forward". www.l3harris.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  5. ↑ White, Andrew (2022-12-06). "Taking lessons from Ukraine, British Army upgrades its radios". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  6. ↑ "AN/PRC-163 Multi-channel Handheld Radio" (PDF). L3Harris. Melbourne, FL: L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
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