# Tactical Network Radio Systems (Low-Tier) — Program Element 0605042A

**Program element:** 0605042A  
**Component:** U.S. Army  
**Appropriation:** 2040 — RDT&E, Army  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605042A

## Summary

U.S. Army funding ramps 18% to a $3.8M request in FY2027, sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full. EPG & MBL leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 4.1 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 3.2 |
| FY2027 | Request | 3.8 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 3.9 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 4.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 4.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 4.1 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 3.8 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 3.8 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 3.8 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 3.8 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (2)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FA1 | Manpack Radio | 2.7 | 1.9 | 2.1 | +10% |
| FA2 | Rifleman Radio (RR) | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.7 | +29% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project FA1 — Manpack Radio

This funding supports the Army's Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) initiative to modernize Command and Control (C2) systems, Transport Layer. Manpack (MP) radios provide: both Classified and Unclassified communications; the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) waveform for Classified and Unclassified communications; advanced waveforms (e.g. TrellisWare TSM) that provide SBU communications; and the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) waveform for Tactical Satellite (TACSAT) communications. The HMS program received a positive Full Rate Production (FRP) decision in 2021 and conducts annual Performance Verification Tests (PVTs) and Operational User Assessment (OUAs)/Soldier Touch Points (STPs) to verify vendor enhancements. The Handheld, Manpack, and Small Form Fit (HMS) radio systems serve as the backbone of the Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) architecture, supporting a converged Mission Command network. HMS completed Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) during January 2021. Following the IOT&E test event, HMS outlined specific actions required to resolve test findings from the IOT&E event. RDT&E funding supports testing activities including laboratory technical testing, PVTs, and OUAs/STPs. Each of these events provides both technical and operational user feedback on increased capabilities, future waveform incorporation, soldier usability, and life-cycle sustainment improvements. FY2027 funds in the amount of $2.062 million support delta testing, PVTs, OUAs/STPs. Examination of modular and open system architectures potentially decrease future integration and waveform porting costs.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** EPG (1.1, 54%), PEO C3N, MBL, & C5ISR (0.9, 42%), PEO C3N & C5ISR (0.1, 4.5%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Management | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| HMS Engineering/Technical Support | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| Test and Evaluation | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.1 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project FA2 — Rifleman Radio (RR)

This funding supports the Army's Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) initiative to modernize Command and Control (C2) systems, Transport Layer. Handheld radios provide both Classified and Unclassified communications. Leader radios provide the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) legacy waveform for Classified and Unclassified communications. HMS radios also provide advanced waveforms (e.g., TrellisWare TSM) that provide Sensitive But Unclassified-Encryption (SBU-E) and Secret and Below (SAB) communications. The SBU-E is a critical component of radio modernization for the Army. The HMS program plans to host a PVT and Operational User Assessments (OUAs)/Soldier Touch Points (STPs) annually to verify vendor enhancements. The Single Channel Data Radio (SCDR) is an Associated Support Items of Equipment (ASIOE) for the Soldier Born Mission Command (SBMC). HMS completed Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) during January 2021. Following the IOT&E test event, HMS outlined specific actions required to resolve test findings from the IOT&E event. RDT&E funding supports testing activities including laboratory technical testing, Performance Verification Tests (PVTs), and OUAs/STPs. Each of these events provides both technical and operational user feedback on increased capabilities, future waveform incorporation, soldier usability, and life-cycle sustainment improvements. Handheld radios provide voice/data communication to the expeditionary Warfighter with an on-the-move, at-the-halt, and stationary Line of Sight (LOS)/Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) capability for both dismounted personnel and platforms. Handheld radio systems are software reprogrammable, networkable, multi-mode systems capable of simultaneous voice and data communication. Handheld radios will support a variety of other platforms, including tactical End User Devices (EUD) voice and data needs. HMS provides tailorable and scalable, software-defined radio systems meeting U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command communications needs. The HMS program serves as the transportation component of the Tactical Network in support of NGC2.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** EPG & MBL (1.2, 67%), PEO C3N & C5ISR (0.6, 33%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Management | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| HMS Engineering/Technical Support | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Test and Evaluation | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.2 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 100% | 3.8 |

**Top named industry performers:** EPG & MBL ($1.2M, 31%), EPG ($1.1M, 29%), PEO C3N, MBL, & C5ISR ($0.9M, 23%), PEO C3N & C5ISR ($0.7M, 18%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

This funding supports the Army's Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) initiative to modernize Command and Control (C2) systems, Transport Layer. Handheld radios provide both Classified and Unclassified communications. Leader radios provide the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) legacy waveform for Classified and Unclassified communications. HMS radios also provide advanced waveforms (e.g., TrellisWare TSM) that provide Sensitive But Unclassified-Encryption (SBU-E) and Secret and Below (SAB) communications. The SBU-E is a critical component of radio modernization for the Army.

On 13 September 2016 the Army Acquisition Executive approved a decrease to the Basis of Issue (BOI) for the single channel Rifleman Radio (RR), increase the BOI for the two channel Leader Radio (LR) and move forward with acquisition activities for the two channel LR. An acquisition strategy addendum adding LR was approved in March 2017. The addendum continued the multi-vendor approach utilizing the existing Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) RR base contract (awarded 29 April 2015) to on-ramp LR capabilities (18 September 2018). The LR effort is a separate competition under the Handheld radio suite.

## Related program elements

- [0207279F — Isolated Personnel Survivability and Recovery](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0207279F) (Air Force)
- [0303133F — High Frequency Radio Systems](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0303133F) (Air Force)
- [0305179A — Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305179A) (Army)
- [1206760SF — Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206760SF) (Space Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Army RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0605042A (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0605042A")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*