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.

AN/PRC-163
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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)

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)