Contact: Joanne Wegener
Phone: (425) 450-6090
Icom Wins Soldier Intercom Award (Bellevue, WA) The U.S. Army selected the Icom IC-F3S Portable Transceiver for the new Soldier Intercom. "We are honored at our selection, especially after the rigorous testing and stiff competition with other radio industry leaders", said Chris Lougee, Land Mobile Division Manager, Icom America, Inc. "The Icom IC-F3S had the lowest failure rate during harsh test conditions, and was overwhelmingly preferred during combat situations by the soldiers", he added. Icom America will deliver over 22,000 units to fulfill the fielding plan to specific Ranger, Airborne, Air Assault, Light Infantry and Mechanized Infantry units. Other agencies may purchase the Soldier Intercom on Icom America's GSA Contract GS-35F-1094D. It includes an Icom IC-F3S portable transceiver, spare battery, AA alkaline battery pack, combat carrying case and a Telex Stinger stealth headset all packaged and shipped from Icom America, 2380 116th Avenue NE, Bellevue, Washington, 98004. The Army tested several transceivers in a tropic environment because the humidity and heavy foliage represented a probable worst case scenario. They were inserted into standard training exercises, over a 4 week period, at the U.S. Army Tropic Test Center, Republic of Panama, in an operationally realistic field environment while engaged in offensive and defensive battle drills. Test results were published in the "System Evaluation Report For The Soldier Intercom (SI)", June 22, 1998, by the US Army Operational Test and Evaluation Command. Although the Icom IC-F3 was tested, they selected the IC-F3S after deciding that no keypad requirement existed. "The Icom IC-F3 clearly was favored by the soldier test participants", the report states. Also in the report, "The Icom ranks as the best value of the intercoms tested". The Icom IC-F3 exceeded the performance criterion for standing, and prone operation, over rolling grassland and slightly wooded terrain, in a low power mode. Also, the Icom IC-F3 operated properly after being jumped in airborne operations. The Icom IC-F3 experienced only one failure in 1167 operating hours, exceeding the mean time between operational failures criterion (MTBOMF) by a factor of 3. It operated 24-42 hours with the rechargeable battery and 21-36 hours with the throwaway AA cells (10% transmit, 10% receive and 80% standby mode). The soldiers considered the Icom radio the most durable of all the commercial radios tested, and the one preferred to take into combat. The average temperature ranged from 75-88°F, average humidity was 87% and the average rainfall was .47 inches per day. These environmental conditions are especially harsh on electronic equipment. The soldiers were asked to assemble, insert batteries, initialize and communicate over the Icom radio without the use of the manual. More than 2/3 of the soldiers rated these tasks as extremely easy. These results indicated the ease of use of the Icom radio, and that the training requirement will be minimal.
Background Information On The Soldier Intercom
The Soldier Intercom (SI) program began to satisfy the need for an infantry inter-squad radio. "The individual soldier operates in a high tempo, high risk, combat environment", states the Single Acquisition Management Plan for the Soldier Intercom, dated December 30, 1997. "Inter-squad commands and communications are passed verbally from person to person or by hand and arm signals. These are often misunderstood, and can result in inaccurate and incomplete situational awareness, especially at night". "The success of a squad's mission depends on the ability of the squad leader to communicate rapidly to each individual squad member precise changes in plans and orders, as well as changes in friendly and enemy situations. The individual soldier at the squad level must be able to plan and react quicker than the enemy. The SI will give the individual soldier that capability". No inter-squad electronics communications capability currently exists. The SI is a Commercial Off-The-Shelf procurement, which evaluated capabilities and features against cost objectives. Transceivers were tested in combat conditions over a 4 week period, at the U.S. Army Tropic Test center, Republic of Panama, in an operationally realistic field environment while engaged in offensive and defensive battle drills. Test results were published in the "System Evaluation Report For The Soldier Intercom (SI)", June 22, 1998, by the US Army Operational Test and Evaluation Command. Overall, 100% of the participants stated that the SI provided better knowledge of their position, tactical situation and threat, and 96% considered it an improvement over hand and arm signals. They felt more secure knowing that if they were wounded, they could be located and helped. The SI helped them in "knowing what's going on" which gave them a sense of having control of the situation. The field leadership were unanimous in rating the effectiveness of the squads using the SI. The platoon leader observed "each squad was able to monitor the other squads' progress, problems, success, etc. as the mission was developing". Reactions were better during unplanned and unrehearsed segments, and there was better control over each individual.