The Personnel Recovery Device (PRD) is a compact, lightweight, Mil-Spec Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) used for signaling soldier distress. This alert and notification device is intended for use of ground forces and issued to every soldier at risk of becoming isolated, missing, detained or captured.
The PRD complies with the PLB standard and is certified as a PLB. When used domestically and in training, the device acts like a standard Cospas-Sarsat (C/S) Class-II PLB, transmitting on an assigned C/S channel within the 406.0 MHz to 406.1 MHz band.
However, unlike a PLB, the PRD has configurable parameters allowing supervisors and issuing facilities to change the mode and functionality of the device for operation in secure OTH mode using customer’s proprietary/national asset waveforms or Point to Point between the user and the recovery aircraft.
In the secure mode, the PRD transmits a digital distress message containing PRD identification information and a GPS position to remote receivers. The messages (including GPS location) are encoded to protect data from adversarial or casual interception.
The PRD case is designed for ultimate simplicity and durability. The main housing is constructed from solid aluminum for heightened strength and rugged performance. All materials and coatings have been carefully selected to withstand the battlefield contaminants and rough conditions encountered in an operational environment.
The device uses non-rechargeable, user replaceable, lithium CR123A batteries. These batteries provide the device power during all its operation modes.
The user interface allows switching device mode, waveform parameters and device parameter settings.
Built-In-Test results retrieving and accessing production test set commands, by authorized personnel.
