AN/PRC-163

AN/PRC-163
noframe
Type	Handheld dual channel tactical radio
Service History
In service	2018 - ongoing
Used by	US Army, US Marine Corps, US Navy, US Air Force, British Army, Canadian Army
Production history
Manufacturer	L3Harris
Production years	2018 - ongoing
Specifications
Frequency range	VHF, UHF (see specifications)
Transmit power	LOS: up to 5 watts SATCOM: up to 10 watts
Modes	analog voice, digital voice and data
Encryption	NSA 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. ^[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.

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, ^[4] and Marine Corps, Canadian Army ^[5] as well as the British Army. ^[6] The U.S. Army is set to purchase over 100,000 PRC-163 radios. ^{[1] [ when? ]}

Specifications

Source: ^[7]

General

Frequency Range:

• R/T 1:

VHF low: 30–88  MHz (10.0–3.4 m), VHF high: 118–174  MHz (2.54–1.72 m)

UHF: 225–512  MHz (1.332–0.586 m)

SATCOM: Uplink 300–320  MHz (1.00–0.94 m) / Downlink 360–380  MHz (0.83–0.79 m)

UHF SATCOM: Uplink 291–318  MHz (1.03–0.94 m) / Downlink 243–270  MHz (1.23–1.11 m)

• R/T 2:

UHF: 225–450  MHz (1.33–0.67 m)

L/S-band: 1.3–2.6  GHz (0.23–0.12 m)

Modes:

• Voice: Narrowband analog/PCM AM/FM, CVSD ASK/FSK ciphertext, Wideband 2400 bit/s MELPe, LPC/2400-MELP – SATCOM Integrated Waveform (IW)
• Data: Narrowband analog/PCM AM/FM, CVSD ASK/FSK ciphertext, Wideband up to 16 Mbit/s
• Power Output: 250 mW to 5 W , 10 W SATCOM modes, 3.2 W 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 (ANW²C), SINCGARS, P25 (Conventional)

Channel 2: ANW²C, UHF LOS, UHF SATCOM

• Optional Waveforms:

Channel 1: SATURN,^{[ clarification needed ]} High Performance Waveform (HPW), IW Phase 1/2, HAVEQUICK I/II, P25T Trunking (Low Band), SCM and e-BFT (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): 6 in × 3 in × 2 in (152 mm × 76 mm × 51 mm)
• Weight: 2.75 pounds (1.25 kg) (with battery)
• Color/Finish: Chemical Agent Resistant Coating (CARC) green

Environmental

• Operating Temperature: −22 to 140 °F (−30 to 60 °C)
• Storage Temperature: −40 to 185 °F (−40 to 85 °C)
• Immersion: 66 feet (20 m)

References

1. Chakraborty, Aninda (10 December 2020). "US Army orders L3Harris Falcon IV AN/PRC-163 handheld radios". Army-Technology.com. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
2. "Harris AN/PRC-163 handheld radio attains NSA Type-1 certification". Army-Technology.com. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
3. "L3Harris Receives Radio Production Orders Worth $235 Million Under US Army's HMS Contract | L3Harris Fast. Forward". L3Harris.com (Press release). Retrieved 27 October 2023.
4. "US Navy, Air Force Award L3Harris Technologies Order for Two-Channel Handheld Tactical Radios Enabling Advanced Battle Management System | L3Harris Fast. Forward". L3Harris.com (Press release). Retrieved 27 October 2023.
5. "Canada Becomes First International Customer for New L3Harris Compact Team Radio | L3Harris Fast. Forward". L3Harris.com (Press release). Retrieved 26 January 2024.
6. White, Andrew (6 December 2022). "Taking lessons from Ukraine, British Army upgrades its radios". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 27 October 2023.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
7. "AN/PRC-163 Multi-channel Handheld Radio" (PDF). L3Harris.com (Product Brochure). Melbourne, Florida: L3Harris Technologies, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.

See also

• Electronics portal

• List of military electronics of the United States