Harris Corporation's Falcon III AN/PRC-117G manpack radio has successfully completed another series of tests for use with military satellites.

The tactical multi-band radios -- in standard hardware configuration -- hosted the Mobile User Objective System waveform during the tests held at the MUOS Test Radio Access Facility in California, which is operated by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. government.

"We successfully completed all scheduled tests and worked through additional test scenarios," said George Helm, president, U.S. Department of Defense business, Harris RF Communications. "This milestone puts us on schedule to release the MUOS waveform through a software upgrade to the combat-proven AN/PRC-117G terminal next year.

"The DOD has already fielded more than 30,000 of these MUOS-ready terminals."

MUOS is a next-generation military satellite system for secure voice and data communications using tactical radios. Harris is developing the MUOS waveform to operate on multiple radio hardware platforms, including its AN/PRC-117G, AN/VRC-118 two-channel mid-tier networking vehicular radio solution, and the new Harris multi-channel manpack radio system.

Harris gave no details on what the testing involved but said the MUOS test facility included a ground station, satellite payload and simulators to emulate various environmental scenarios.