04 June 03. Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS – News), has been selected to provide its Sierra-based Cryptographic Subsystem (CSS) for Cluster 1 of the U.S. Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program.
The announcement was made by BAE SYSTEMS, which received official notification from The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA – News). The CSS is an integrated element of the Networking/INFOSEC Unit under development by the Boeing team. The selection concluded a risk reduction process looking at multiple approaches to the CSS that was started by the Boeing team at contract award. The CSS is a key component of the JTRS Cluster 1 hardware being used in both the BAE SYSTEMS ground and Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) designs, and the Rockwell Collins’ rotary wing design. Harris expects the selection to result in at least $90 million of business over the next ten years.
“Harris’ CSS for JTRS Cluster 1 Program is based on our Sierra II INFOSEC module architecture and is the basic building block that performs all cryptographic functions,” said Walter Monaco, director, JTRS Cluster 1 Program, Harris RF Communications.
Sierra II is a miniaturized programmable module that can be integrated into radios and other voice and data communication devices to encrypt classified information prior to transmission and storage. Sierra II is based on an earlier version of the Sierra I module, which was certified by the NSA in June 2002. Sierra II supports all of the features of Sierra I, including performing advanced key management functions, and encompasses a much broader range of functionality due to higher data processing speeds,lower power consumption, increased algorithm support and advanced programmability.
JTRS has been named the U.S. Department of Defense “Radio of the Future” and will include a family of software reprogrammable radios sharing a common digital architecture that can be applied to multiple platforms and support provide more than $500m in radio system design, development, and production for the JTRS Cluster 1 program as part of the JTRS Cluster 1 Boeing-led industry team. Harris RF Communications Division is a leading supplier of secure voice and data communications products, systems and networks to military, government, and commercial organizations worldwide.