CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina -- The world is changing. In an era where communication is as vital as ammunition, the Marine Corps is equipping its warfighters with a powerful new tool: the Handheld Radio Test Set (HHRTS).
Designed to keep pace with increasingly complex communication platforms, HHRTS delivers precision diagnostics in a compact, field-ready package—no maintenance bay required.
Historically, Marines have been limited by the equipment they could carry for radio diagnostics, often forced to send radios back to a maintenance facility for full troubleshooting. Now, thanks to HHRTS, those days will be a thing of the past.
“The HHRTS is a complete suite of synthetic test instruments that is easily carried to where the radio platforms are,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kevin Smidt, project officer for HHRTS. “By incorporating an entire suite of test equipment into a single box, Marines are able to troubleshoot radio systems where the problems are, without needing to retrograde the equipment.”
Unlike legacy systems, which were limited to testing up to 1 GHz, HHRTS supports frequencies up to 6 GHz—making it compatible with both legacy and emerging radio platforms in the Marine Corps inventory. The system also introduces automation capabilities through user-created scripted testing, streamlining procedures and standardizing results.
“As technology advances, our communication systems also become better and more complicated,” said Smidt. “The HHRTS keeps pace with these emerging radio systems and helps technicians quickly troubleshoot and repair platforms to get them back into the fight—wherever that fight may be.”
HHRTS entered Full Rate Production in June 2023. A Fielding Decision followed in December 2024, and by May 2025, the system had reached Initial Operational Capability with 250 units delivered to II Marine Expeditionary Force.
Marines at II MEF have already begun using the system, and according to Smidt, other units are eager to follow suit with feedback from the fleet being very enthusiastic.
“They all seemed blown away by what the HHRTS is able to do in such a small package,” he said. “The Marines at III MEF and I MEF are chomping at the bit to get their hands on the next generation of Automatic Test Systems.”
Ground Electronics Maintenance Capabilities Integration Officer Chief Warrant Officer 2 Caleb Dean, Combat Development & Integration, emphasized just how far the system has come compared to its predecessor.
“The HHRTS is a technically robust, user-friendly tool designed for field-level testing and verification of tactical radios,” said Dean. “It offers significantly greater capability than our legacy handheld tester, featuring a broader frequency test range and replicating some of the advanced functions typically reserved for benchtop test sets.”
Dean added, “Think of it as a rugged OBD 2 reader for radios—plug it in, run guided test scripts, and quickly troubleshoot the unit under test. By equipping technicians with this tool at the field level, they can perform rapid and accurate diagnostics, enabling faster repair and support from higher echelons of maintenance.”
With HHRTS now in the hands of Marines, the Corps is pushing the envelope on mobility and efficiency in the communications fight—bringing the lab to the field and keeping the force connected when it matters most.