Raytheon MicroLight radio has been selected by the Thales Prime Contracting Management Office, acting on behalf of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, as the core communications system for the operational effectiveness trials in the assessment phase of the U.K.'s Future Integrated Soldier Technology, or FIST, program.
FIST is a tri-service program to enhance the combat effectiveness of infantry teams in the 21st century. MicroLight is a family of wideband, software-defined radios that simultaneously provide voice, data, video, situational awareness and tracking information.
"The U.K. trials for FIST are a welcome opportunity to demonstrate MicroLight's ability to perform in the most challenging environments," said Jerry Powlen, vice president, Network Centric Systems' Integrated Communications Systems.
"In addition to being available now, MicroLight provides an ad hoc networking solution suited to the dynamic operations carried out by infantry soldiers engaged in close combat situations today."
Raytheon is partnering on FIST with Cobham Defence Communications, Wimborne, Dorset, U.K. Cobham is providing the battle management system.
