PRC-154

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The AN/PRC-154 is the individual soldier intra-squad radio, or "Rifleman Radio", of the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS). It is also designated the SFF-C(V)1 Handheld Radio. Under either name, it provides each soldier with access to two voice talk groups, typically for monitoring one and interacting on another, as well as continuously transmitting his location as determined by GPS.

It operates in the UHF frequency band, and can have 16 channels preset. Using the JTRS Soldier Radio Waveform, it works with other squad radios as a self-organizing network, receiving and repeating signals so that the soldiers are in a full mesh. With the mesh topology, if terrain or construction masks the path between two radios, those soldiers are still likely to be able to communicate via one or more squad radios acting as relays. Using the GPS feature, it has demonstrated the ability for a squad leader to know the position of all of his soldiers inside a darkened building.

AN/PRC-154 Rifleman Radio

The unit weighs less than 2.5 pounds, with some variation depending on battery and headset. Battery life is at least 7.5 hours.

It is equipped with National Security Agency Type II encryption, which is not intended for classified traffic, but also does not require the soldier to have a security clearance. Type II encryption, however, is considered quite adequate for protecting tactical conversations.

Approved suppliers are General Dynamics C4 Communications and Thales Electronics. The device will eventually replace the interim U.S. Marine Corps AN/PRC-343 Integrated Intra-Squad Radio.