Netherlands contracts L3Harris for long-term Foxtrot radio agreement

An L3Harris AN/PRC-171 team radio (immediately to right of laptop) and an AN/PRC-163 multichannel handheld radio (right) during a presentation of radio systems for the Netherlands MTBB project, held on 25 January 2024 in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. (Netherlands MoD)

L3Harris Technologies signed a long-term agreement with the Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the delivery of an unspecified number of combat net radios as part of the Netherlands' Foxtrot armed forces digital modernisation programme.

L3Harris Technologies was selected in November 2023 to fulfil the Foxtrot programme's combat net radio requirement, called the Military Transmission Build Block (MTBB). An L3Harris spokesperson confirmed to Janes on 1 April that the company would be providing radios from its Falcon IV family for the MTBB within the Foxtrot programme.

As set out by the Netherlands MoD in November 2023, the requirements for Foxtrot involve up to EUR2.5 billion (USD2.8 billion) and the programme is expected to run until at least 2036. The MTBB acquisition involves the provision of both vehicle-mounted and handheld radios for approximately 8,000 vehicles, 3,500 military personnel, 135 vessels, 170 aircraft, and helicopters, according to the Netherlands MoD.

Janes understands that between EUR250 million (USD276 million) and EUR1 billion (USD1.1 billion) was budgeted for the MTBB requirement, with L3Harris saying its agreement is valued at up to EUR1 billion.

Sam Mehta, president, communication systems, at L3Harris, said the systems would facilitate interoperability with other European and NATO forces.

The company said it is developing in-country technical maintenance and support facilities and hiring locally in the Netherlands.

In May 2023 the Netherlands Armed Forces selected L3 Harris' Falcon III AN/PRC-117G and Falcon IV AN/PRC-163 radios to replace all of its existing portable ground-to-air radios as part of the Foxtrot programme.