U.S. Army Rangers Choose Personal Role Radio, by SELEX.

FT. BENNING, Ga. -- The US Army Special Operations Command has selected the AN/PRC-343 Personal Role Radio as the individual Warfighter's radio for the 75th Ranger Regiment. 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.

"The rangers chose the PRR because of it's size, weight, comfort, simplicity, durability and compatibility with current US Issue radios like SINCGARS, MBITR, Icom and Motorola, and because it is the only radio that operates even when active IED Countermeasures are in effect," 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, enhanced ECCM and wireless links to US vehicle intercoms, the world's finest soldiers will have world-class communications. There are more than 170,000 Personal Role Radios operationally deployed, and more than 22,000 of them with US Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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.

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 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.

The AN/PRC-343 is the first radio that operates with such a predictable RF footprint that it may be issued on a non-interference basis to every soldier without needing frequency planning. We designed the PRR to make both the Signal Officer and the individual Rifleman happy - and it is produced by a company with a century of commitment to the development and production of advanced radio technologies.

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.