Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. --
As recent developments in distant battlefields have shown, successful military
operations rely on resilient communication architectures capable of closing
kill chains in austere environments.
In order to maintain fleet lethality, Marine Corps Systems Command is working
on fielding a state-of-the-art
multichannel handheld radio system
that mitigates against peer adversary threats and enables Marines to quickly
add new waveforms and enhanced capabilities to address evolving
requirements.
“The Multichannel radio family of systems will provide the [Fleet Marine
Force] with an enhanced capability that increases resiliency and survivability
through network interoperability during missions involving both ground and
vehicular-based forces,” said Richard Sessions, program manager for
communications systems at MARCORSYSCOM. “These new radios will provide
the fleet with many new options in configuring communications and network
pathways while leveraging newer, more secure waveforms.”
Ultimately, this effort will help further the Department of Defense’s
2022 National Defense Strategy, which calls for preserving command, control, and communications in a
fast-paced battlefield. Furthermore, it falls in line with the
Department’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control Implementation Plan
– or
JADC2—a
“warfighting necessity to keep pace with the volume and complexity of
data in modern warfare and to defeat adversaries decisively.”
“Fielding a tactical radio that allows data to be transmitted helps
advance JADC2 because the framework itself requires connectivity at all
levels. In order to fully realize this vision across the Department of
Defense, our team has worked tirelessly to develop a radio that closes
communications links between the Corps and the joint forces; prevents
communications from being compromised; ensures resiliency; and operates on the
right waveforms,” said Lt. Col. Joshua Kapp, product manager for ground
radios.
But as Kapp knows well, one of the first steps in creating a modern
communication architecture is acquiring – and sustaining -- tactical
ground radios that operate on reliable, secure, and flexible communication
networks. In today’s defense landscape, these systems operate on
high-frequency, ultrahigh-frequency, very high-frequency bands, satellite
communications and multiband radios.
“Collectively, our mission is to field and sustain tactical radio
equipment that enables command and control and the situational awareness at
echelons and elements across the MAGTF and provides a line of sight beyond
line-of-sight secure voice data,” Kapp said in a recent MARCORSYSCOM
podcast. “It's a long way of saying that we cover all of the tactical
radios in the Marine Corps.”
Acquiring the correct systems to ensure the lethality of the modern warfighter
is no easy task – especially when the team must maintain the 85,000
radios currently owned by the Corps, in addition to fielding an additional
34,000 radios over the next five years.
“We're in a consistent cycle of contract prep and award, product
testing, software and firmware updates, technological evaluations, waveform
development, FMF engagement, and support and sustainment efforts,” Kapp
noted. “Without a doubt, we also spend a considerable amount of time
doing commodity management and integration activities across the Command and
[other] Services.”
According to Sessions, fielding of the new multichannel handheld radios will
begin in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024.
Driving a highly professional acquisitions program has also benefited the
Corps, however, and Sessions was quick to note that the recent industry
contract for handheld multichannel radios ended up saving the Corps millions
of dollars.
“We’re talking about an initial savings of $82
million. Beyond that, we’ve negotiated 10 years of support and an
agreement to allow our Marines to do Level 3 maintenance without voiding our
warranty. That isn’t something a radio vendor has allowed before,”
Sessions noted.
But Kapp believes his team’s success wouldn’t be possible without
the hard work and dedication of his team members -- many of whom are Marine
Corps veterans.
“What I really appreciate about the team is their investment. It’s
something I see from government, civilians, and contractors alike. What you
may not know, however, is that the vast majority of my team is made up of past
Marines. They have children, brothers and sisters who are still
serving,” Kapp said. “Inevitably, this means that they bring a ton
of dedication into the work that they do. It’s not just about being
successful… there’s true passion behind the work they do because
they know what the end result is.”
Editor’s note: Learn more about Marine Corps ground radio acquisition
efforts on MARCORSYSCOM’s Equipping the Corps podcast featuring Lt.
Col. Josh Kapp, here.