AN/PRC-163TypeHandheld dual channel tactical radioService HistoryIn service2018 - ongoingUsed byUS Army, US Marine Corps, US Navy, US Air Force, British Army, Canadian ArmyProduction historyManufacturerL3HarrisProduction years2018 - ongoingSpecificationsFrequency rangeVHF, UHF (see specifications)Transmit powerLOS: up to 5 watts SATCOM: up to 10 wattsModesanalog voice, digital voice and dataEncryptionNSA Type 1 (up to Secret) 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. 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. The PRC-163 is one of the Handheld, Manpack & Small Form Fit (HMS) components of the Integrated Tactical Network family of radios, 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.
In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/PRC-163" designation represents the 163rd design of an Army-Navy electronic device for portable two-way communications radio. The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense electronic systems.
Service history The PRC-163 is in use by the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, Canadian Army as well as the British Army. The U.S. Army is set to purchase over 100,000 PRC-163 radios.
Specifications
General Frequency Range: 1: VHF low: , VHF high: UHF: SATCOM: Uplink / Downlink UHF SATCOM: Uplink / Downlink R/T 2: UHF: L/S-band:
Modes: Voice: Narrowband analog/PCM AM/FM, CVSD ASK/FSK ciphertext, Wideband MELPe, LPC/2400-MELP – SATCOM Integrated Waveform (IW) Data: Narrowband analog/PCM AM/FM, CVSD ASK/FSK ciphertext, Wideband up to Power Output: to , SATCOM modes, L/S-band Encryption: Denali-based NSA 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 Standard Waveforms: Channel 1: VHF/UHF Line-of-Sight (LOS), Adaptive Networking Wideband Waveform Coordination Capability (ANWC), SINCGARS, P25 (Conventional) Channel 2: ANWC, UHF LOS, UHF SATCOM Optional Waveforms: Channel 1: SATURN, High Performance Waveform (HPW), IW Phase 1/2, HAVEQUICK I/II, P25T Trunking (Low Band), SCM and (DoD only) Channel 2: 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: TNC female, 50 Ω characteristic impedance Key Fill: DS-101 (via AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loader) External Mission Module: Power, data, control/status
Physical Dimensions (H-W-D): Weight: (with battery) Color/Finish: Chemical Agent Resistant Coating (CARC) green
Environmental Operating Temperature: Storage Temperature: Immersion:
References
See also
List of military electronics of the United States