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The $6 billion Army radio project that will never make it to combat

The $6 billion Army radio project that will never make it to combat

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The Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) was a military program intended to develop a "future-proof" software-based radio system that took 15 years, cost the military billions, and never saw the light of day.

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Army Radio FLICKR
Army Radio FLICKR

The Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) was a military program intended to develop a "future-proof" software-based radio system that took 15 years, cost the military billions, and never saw the light of day. Ars Technica tells the full story of JTRS, a project that sought to create an open "operating system" for military radios, which would simplify a variety of radio technologies and make them easier, faster, and less expensive to upgrade. With only one previous foray into software-based radio, the project suffered from the government's lack of experience in the field. One of the main JTRS programs, the Ground Mobile Radio (GMR) failed to meet deadlines as last-minute features were added regularly and the gear reached a not-so-mobile 207 pounds. The Army cancelled the program in October 2011, and the expensive and time-consuming technology that was developed will likely never be put to use. For more on the program's struggles to achieve its shining vision, check out the full article at the source link below.