Officials at General Dynamics C4 Systems demonstrated the networked-communications capability of their Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Fit (HMS) radios.

The tests have confirmed interoperability, range, video transmission, and networking abilities. Each of those capabilities is critical for accomplishing the Department of Defense's transformational objectives of increasing connectivity among warfighters and military units.

A recent field experiment at Ft. Huachuca AZ, featured a two-channel Manpack HMS radio exceeding a 20-kilometer range requirement test and transmitting voice and data over rugged terrain and rough conditions.

The Manpack HMS radio is also part of an ongoing field experiment in Lakehurst, N.J. Using the new Soldier Radio Waveform to format information, the Manpack HMS radio successfully transmitted voice, video, data, and messages to 25 nodes simulating soldiers operating within a single network.

The HMS radios also are achieving other key JTRS requirements, such as communicating with existing, Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) radios, transmitting video while embedded in unmanned aerial vehicles, and communicating with radios mounted in mobile ground vehicles.

Due to their small, light and power-efficient design, HMS radios work for close combat tactical communication and are easier for soldiers to carry or wear compared to currently deployed legacy radios. They can also be embedded in new lightweight sensors, robots, and unmanned aerial vehicles. All the HMS radios have the same core design but take on different functionality and physical shape depending on the unique mission.

The JTRS HMS single-channel radio for ground soldiers, the Small Form Fit – C (SFF-C) Version 1, or "Rifleman Radio" is scheduled for user evaluation by the U.S. Army's Evaluation Task Force at Fort Bliss,Texas.

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