AN/PRC-117

The AN/PRC-117 is a family of portable, tactical VHF/UHF/L-band software-defined voice and data communications combat-net radio, originally manufactured by Harris Corporation (now L3Harris). The AN/PRC-117 series is notable for its software communications architecture (SCA), allowing for quick upgrades and adaptability to evolving mission requirements. It is widely used by US military and allied forces.

In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/PRC-117" designation represents the 117th 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 and some NATO electronic systems.

Features

Fully compliant with the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) standard,[1] the radio supports multiband and multimission operations across a wide frequency range. The AN/PRC-117G variant is 30% smaller and 35% lighter than the previous models, enhancing portability for dismounted operations. It features Type-1 and NINE Suite B encryption, enabling secure interoperability with US, NATO, and coalition partners. Its removable Keypad Display Unit (KDU) facilitates operation while the radio is stowed, effective for on-the-move communication.

The AN/PRC-117 may also be deployed in a vehicle-mounted configuration under the AN/VRC-103 designation, with mounting systems and integrated communication cases supporting multi-transceiver setups. The radios are engineered to endure battlefield environmental conditions including shock, vibration, and water immersion. The radio is Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) ready for beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) satellite communications (SATCOM), and the AN/PRC-117F(C)-HQ includes ground-to-air capabilities with Have Quick I/II support. Multiple power options (AC, DC, and battery) provide operational flexibility.

Variants

The PRC-117 has been released in several different versions, most notably:

  • AN/PRC-117A was a portable VHF transceiver radio.[2]
  • AN/PRC-117B was a VHF-low band FM full band frequency-hopping spread spectrum radio operating from 30–89.975 MHz (9.99–3.33 m).[2]
  • AN/PRC-117D MANPACK added VHF-high band and UHF frequency coverage and AM and contained integrated communications security (COMSEC) abilities using TSEC/KY-57, as well as Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) interoperability. It operated in three bands including VHF-low 30–89.975 MHz (9.99–3.33 m), VHF-high 116–174 MHz (2.58–1.72 m) and UHF 225–420 MHz (1.33–0.71 m). It had data transfer rates up to 16 kbps.[2]
  • AN/PRC-117F Falcon II® MBMMR (Multiband Multimission Manpack Radio),[3] also referred to as AN/PRC-117F-MP. This radio operates in the 30–512 MHz (9.99–0.59 m) frequency range, and is provided without an internal GPS. Optionally an external commercial GPS can be connected, or a GPS selective availability anti-spoofing module (SAASM) such as the Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver (PLGR) or the Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR).[4]
  • AN/PRC-117G Falcon III® MNMR[5] (Multiband Networking Manpack Radio), also referred to as AN/PRC-117G-MP. This radio, provided with internal SAASM GPS, operates from 30–2,000 MHz (9.99–0.15 m). Optionally an external commercial GPS can be connected).[6]

F and G version radios are NSA certified for the transmission of voice and data traffic up to Top Secret level communications.[7]

Users

The PRC-117F/G radios are used extensively by the United States Department of Defense including United States Navy Seabee and EOD teams,[4] and embedded in the Navy's remote mine hunting systems.[8] It is also used by the United States Air Force,[9] Army,[10] Marine Corps,[11] Coast Guard, and USSOCOM.[12]

Besides US forces, the radio is used by the British Army, Canadian Armed Forces, Croatian Army, German Armed Forces.[13] Norwegian Armed Forces, Royal Air Force,[14] Royal Danish Army,[15] Royal Netherlands Army, and the Spanish Air and Space Force.

In 2004, the radio was incoporated into an over-the-horizon SATCOM improved dual command and control (C2) console system. The console was deployed to aviation units in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2005 where line-of-sight (LOS) communication was difficult. It was recognized by the US Army as a "Top 10 Invention" in 2005 where winning entries were selected based on impact to Army capabilities.[16]

Operating specifications (AN/PRC-117G)

Source: AN/PRC-117G Datasheet[1]

General

  • Frequency range: 30–2,000 MHz (9.99–0.15 m)
    • Narrowband: VHF 30–225 MHz (9.99–1.33 m), UHF 225–512 MHz (1.332–0.586 m)
    • Wideband: UHF/L-band 225–2,000 MHz (1.33–0.15 m)
    • SATCOM: Transmitting 292–318 MHz (1.03–0.94 m), Receiving 243–270 MHz (1.23–1.11 m)
    • MUOS: Uplink 300–320 MHz (1.00–0.94 m), Downlink 360–380 MHz (0.83–0.79 m)
  • Presets: 99 (110 including DAMA)
  • Channel spacing/bandwidth:
    • Narrowband: 8.33, 12.5 and 25 kHz
    • Wideband: 500 kHz, 1.2, 2.5 and 5 MHz
    • SATCOM: 5 and 25 kHz
  • Frequency deviation: 5, 6.5 and 8 kHz
  • Frequency stability: +/- 0.5 ppm
  • Tuning resolution: 10 Hz

Transmitter

Receiver

Waveforms

  • Narrowband: AM/FM, VHF/UHF LOS, SINCGARS, Have Quick I/II, SATURN[a] (optional), APCO P25 (optional), P25 OTAR (optional)
  • Wideband: Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW), ANW2®C[b], ROVER III L-band receive (optional)
  • UHF SATCOM:
    • MIL-STD-188
      • −181B; Advanced Narrowband Digital Voice Terminal (ANDVT) dedicated 56 kbit/s data channel
      • −181C, −183B; Interoperability standard for access and multiple-access to 5-kHz And 25-kHz UHF satellite communications channels
      • −182A, −183A Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA)
    • High performance waveform (HPW)/IP
    • MUOS (optional)

Interoperability

Physical characteristics

  • Physical dimensions: 3.7 × 7.4 × 8.8 inches (9.4 × 18.8 × 22.4 cm) with or without battery
  • Volume: 155 in3 (2,540 cm3) without battery; 235 in3 (3,850 cm3) with battery
  • Weight: 8.2 lb (3.7 kg) without batteries; 12 lb (5.4 kg) with batteries
  • Operating temperature: −40 to 158 °F (−40 to 70 °C)
  • Immersion in water: 1 meter
  • Finish: CARC green
  • Power: BA-5590/U, BA-5390/U, BB-2590/U, BB-590/U or BB-390/U batteries

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Second Generation Anti-Jam UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN), a successor product of Have Quick
  2. ^ Advanced Networking Wideband Waveform, trademark of L3Harris

References

  1. ^ a b "L3HARRIS FALCON III AN/PRC-117G(V)1(C) Multiband Networking Manpack Radio" (PDF). L3Harris. July 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b c AN/PRC-117D(V)2(C) Frequency Hopping VHF/UHF FM/AM Manpack Transciever with Integrated COMSEC (PDF) (Technical Manual). Rochester, New York: Harris Corp. June 1996. Retrieved 14 November 2025. (171 pages)
  3. ^ "AN/PRC-117F(C) Multiband, Multimission Radio" (PDF). Harris.com (Product Brochure). Rochester, New York. 5 August 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  4. ^ a b "U.S. Navy Awards Harris Corporation $16 Million Contract for Falcon II and Falcon III Radios". Harris.com (Press Release). San Diego, California. 1 February 2007. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
  5. ^ "AN/PRC-117G(V)1(C) Type-1 Wideband Multiband Multimission Radio With Internal SAASM GPS" (PDF). L3Harris.com (Product Brochure). Melbourne, Florida. December 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Harris Falcon III® AN/PRC-117G(V)1(C) Multiband Networking Manpack Radio" (Product Page). 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Harris Corporation Receives NSA and DAMA Certification for Falcon II Multiband/Multimission Radios". Harris.com (Press Release). Rochester, New York. 1 February 2000. Archived from the original on 13 June 2002. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  8. ^ Erwin, Sandra I (May 2002). "Navy Mine Hunting System Gets Long-Range Data Link". National Defense Magazine.org. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  9. ^ Erwin, Sandra I. (February 2003). "Air-Strike Coordinators Need Lighter Equipment". National Defense Magazine.org. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  10. ^ Aman, Kevin; Dietz, Brent (10 October 2006). "Harris Corporation Awarded $46 Million Contract from the U.S. Army for Falcon II AN/PRC-117F(C) Multiband Multimission Radios". Harris.com. Washington, D.C. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011.
  11. ^ Sheppard, Susan; Dietz, Brent (19 October 2005). "Harris Corporation Awarded Potential $205 Million Contract For U.S. Marine Corps MBMMR Radio Standardization Program". Harris.com. Rochester, New York. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011.
  12. ^ Colucci, Frank (February 2002). "Joint Tactical Radio Expected To Meet Special-Warfare Needs". National Defense Magazine.org. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  13. ^ Forkert, André (30 April 2025). "D-LBO: Bundeswehr bestellt Funkgeräte bei L3Harris - S&T - Soldat & Technik" [D-LBO: German Armed Forces order radios from L3Harris]. Soldat & Technik.de (in German). Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Portable Radio Communication PRC". Ministry of Defence.uk. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017.
  15. ^ See List of equipment of the Royal Danish Army § Communications systems
  16. ^ "US Army Awards for Top 10 Inventions of 2005". 26 June 2006. Archived from the original on 21 June 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2007.
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