Southern U.S. Border Troops Choose the Personal Role Radio, by SELEX.

A Model of the AN/PRC-343 Personal Role Radio Will Be on Display in the Finmeccanica Booth #1661 at the AUSA Show in Washington DC October 9 - 11

AUSTIN, Texas -- US Army National Guard Joint Task Force Texas (JTFTX) has selected the AN/PRC-343 Personal Role Radio (PRR) as the individual soldier's intra-squad radio for communications along the southern United States border. Selex Communications, a part of the Finmeccanica group of defense companies, manufactures the PRR which is used in 29 countries as the tactical radio of choice for intra-squad communications. Speaking recently with a group of JTFTX Guardsmen about the investment in technology made on their behalf, President Bush said, "It's amazing, the new technologies that are arriving."

"The National Guardsmen who are securing our borders need a reliable, capable communications that is undetectable to the modern Coyote (human trafficker)," said Wesley Gilson, President and General Manager of Selex Communications, Inc. "The PRR is the world's most successful warfighter's radio, and now with AES encryption, wireless links to US vehicle intercoms and compatibility with the Motorola XTS Series radios used for longer range applications, our citizen-soldiers will be able to communicate quickly and leave no guardsman without communications capability." There are more than 170,000 Personal Role Radios currently deployed worldwide, and more than 22,000 of them with US Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The AN/PRC-343 Personal Role Radio (PRR) is a digital, encrypted tactical radio that fits comfortably in a shirt pocket. Its form/fit is compatible with ACU sleeve pockets and current issue Individual Body Armor (IBA) via the Molle-compatible pouch. It uses advanced Low-Probability of Intercept (LPI) and Low-Probability of Detection (LPD) waveforms that transmit and receive voice and data simultaneously to support the modern warrior - and is compatible with all current US DoD issue radios. It has a wireless, patented Push-to-Talk Button to place on the warrior's weapon and uses only 2 x AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries for extremely low logistical impact and cost of ownership. The PRR supports real-time situational awareness with Rockwell's DAGR, the US Military's standard-issue GPS Receiver, for both Blue Force Tracking applications as well as full Situational Awareness using such tools as BFT, FBCB2, C2PC, Falconview and other applications. In addition, all previous versions of PRR issued to US Forces are eligible for upgrade to the newest version with the most advanced waveforms and capabilities ever offered.

About SELEX Communications

SELEX Communications, a Finmeccanica Company, is a communications systems supplier for military and civil customers. Uniquely placed to lead the delivery of Network Centric Communications, the Company's capabilities encompass solutions for joint, land, sea and air applications, secure and mission critical communications. A leader in advanced technology with over 100 years of experience, SELEX Communications develops state-of-the-art communications solutions meeting customer requirements and exceeding their expectations. Selex Communications produces the current issue Marine Corps intra-squad radio (AN/PRC-343 Personal Role Radio version 1.0), industry-leading IED Countermeasures, and provided the radios and infrastructure for the 2004 Olympics in Turin, Italy. SELEX Communications employs more than 5000 people worldwide, with offices and plants in Italy, the UK, USA, Germany, Turkey, Romania and South America.